yes welcome to the site!
posting pictures of your car and any projects your working on currently would be great!
yeah! theres long bloody fingernail marks on the pavement showing where I was reluctantly being drug kicking and screaming all the way into the computer age... this was what I was REQUIRED too use in college when I went through engineering classes
now I carry a more modern version, so yeah over time I learn too adapt.
I think Dave was simply referring to his slightly over standard bore diameter 396-402 big block that calculates out at a displacement to be 409 cubic inches, here bore x bore x stroke x 8(cylinders) x .7854= displacement
those 396-402 big blocks are some of the most over looked and under rated engines out there! Ive found many guys seem to go to extraordinary lengths too find and build a 400 based sbc but ignore the 396-402 which in my opinion is flat out insane!, the worst cylinder heads chevy every produced for the big block engines will with a minor port and bowl clean-up significantly out flow the highly praised VORTEC small block heads and a 4" stroke 454 crank is very easily adaptable to the smaller engine with aftermarket pistons, to produce a very effective 433 cubic inch displacement engine, now that being a fact finding the pistons required at a good price and getting it all balanced and clearanced may cost more than a local shop may sell a 454 short block assembly for so shop around before you dive into any project and start throwing cash into it!