The good is they are torque monsters for a stock small block.
The bad is the blocks are prone to failure at higher power levels.
they have cast iron cranks and short rods.
They make fun street engines. As was said if you are gonna run it hard buy pistons for the 5.7 rods. The stock rods are 5.565. The 5.7 rods are the "regular" sbc rod length. Many people will say they run hot but I have never had a problem at all with the 2 that I had. My dad has one in his el camino and it doesn't heat up either..that's a myth.