414 block half fill in waterjackets

IMO - no. It's not a street engine anymore. 1/2 fill normally means to the top of the freeze plugs because it's 1/2 the height of the cooling jackets - that's roughly the lower 3rd of the cylinder core. If you want to try it - I'd run an oil cooler because the heat transferred to the cooling jackets in that area of the block is from the oil.

Every block I've ever seen half filled was to the bottom of the freeze plugs. I guess Yankees do it different. lol