Trick Flow 190 Heads, hydraulic roller cam, and pushrod angle Question.

I'm not sure the points above are entirely clarifying. The Lobe Separation Angle (LBA) of the 318 poly, carried over to the LA evolution is exactly the point when it comes to considering the LA's "bent" lifter/pushrod path to the rocker arms. The 273 as the first LA was specifically made narrower overall on top of the poly block architecture in order to fit between the inner fenders of the A-Body. A compromise reflecting the corporation's time and resource constraints, including engineering and tooling, to adapt to a flexing competitive market. In the late 50's, a broad assumption was made that the Detroit response to European small car inroads would be to offer similar vehicles with four and six cylinder engines. With Ford's thin wall cast and small dimension 260 and the BOP aluminum diecast 215 V8's, Chrysler Corp had to scramble. As the first A-Bodies were formed around the Slant 6 and V8s were wide... The engine was unceremoniously squeezed and the 1964+ underhood sheetmetal massaged. We all know that until the unit body was slightly widened in 1967 that the V8 clearance remained a challenge.

More to the considerations of the original poster's question. I think everyone has been consistent in noting "it depends". Form follows function: Max horsepower high RPM drag car or street driver performance? Compromises made for production sales become increasingly significant as you get closer to pure racing optimization.