Rats! They seem to be everywhere, infesting the streets with their special brand of colossal big-block horsepower and torque. Yet despite all their power and evil reputation, there's always been one ...

Two issues back, we subjected a 468-inch big-block Chevy to a variety of different oval-port cylinder heads, ranging from stock peanut-port-style heads to full CNC-ported versions (see “The Big O”).

Cylinder head technology is an ever-growing evolution and these days, conventional 23 degree heads have never been better. Some say the incredible advancement comes from the needs of drag racers, who ...