Random Observations 4 cyl GM vs Ford
2.2 GM 94-up alumiunm pushrod head has awesome stock ports. Probably makes big HP with a cam and some compression but we have blown up a few bone stock bottom ends racing so we never dared to try.
I think if you changed out most of the bottom end with high dollar parts it would (as the does the 2.5 GM) make a hot little motor.Maybe a dominating one but at what cost?This is MINI STOCK racing for crying out loud.
We race radical cammed up 11:1 heads on BONE stock 2.5 Ford bottom ends with huge miles and they don't break.Multiple seasons/multiple trucks.When we first started racing pickups we and our competitors ran stock 2.2 and 2.5 GM without cams or milled heads and the bottom ends only lasted a handful of races at best.
2.2/2.5 GM most probably WON'T stay together racing,2.3/2.5 Ford most probably WILL stay together.HUGE difference.
And all this is from a GM lover. Only an idiot remains blinded in light of hard facts and shared experience of those that have been there and tried.