Those pistons with a lot different pin heights are for engines with different stroke lengths & sometimes rod length. A stock 400 had a 1.7 pin height. It is common for aftermarket forged pistons to have slightly more, like 1.714 or 1.720. This is still for a 3.75 stroke crank & stock length 6.625 rods. It is said that many Pontiac pistons came .020 or a little more down in the hole. So, a larger pin height will put the top of the piston closer to the deck, without machining any off the block.
Those IC9946 pistons are not dish pistons. They have 8 valve reliefs, That is so they can also be used with the earlier heads, which need the reliefs in a slightly different location. 389 heads fall into this category. These are not as nice a piston as the dish & 2-relief forged Icons.
"...what would you guys suggest as an "ideal" cam choice with the L2262F @ 6.7cc with mixed fuel or the 14/15cc dished Icon pistons on premium pump fuel? "
I don't know what would be the "ideal" cam. But, a decent compromise, to me, would be a Summit 2802, with Rhoads original Super Lube lifters(if you can stand the ticking sound they make).
No, I don't have any dyno results or drag strip tests to prove any of these cams. I'm just going by the cam specs. Around 220 duration @ .050 lift, with a 112-114 LSA, is a decent cam for mid range power, good vac, and a decent idle.
When a cam gets up to around 230 dur @ .050, it loses lower end torque, vac, and the idle is a bit more lumpy, in a 400. So, to me, that makes an 041 clone too nasty for most 400's. And it puts the Summit 2802, about in the middle of the pack. The Rhoads lifters will give the 2802 more low end torque, more vac, and a smoother idle. Therefore the combination should have a slightly wider power range than any of the other cams listed, using regular lifters. And, the Crower 60243 will have the most top end power.
