I've been reading up on the magazine Popular Hot Rodding dyno shootout. There are several refering to "reverse cooling", whereas the coolant flows through the heads first then through the block. Typically, coolant flows through the block then the heads. Reversing the flow allows the heads to take on a cooler coolant, which should allow the heads to perform better, which then results in better performance.

Are there benefits to be gained here or is this stuff reserved for the dyno shootouts and racing applications?

Any references to this being done on a 500? (I have a 71)

your heads are typicaly the hottest part of the engine, so in therory if you cool those better you will gain cooler fuel air charge and make a few more ponies. olny thing different is a reverse drive water pump and serp setup

Easier said than done on the old 500 CI engines.