I hope you don't mind if I buy an argument. This first gen Dak chassis is for sale on Craigslist. I contacted the gent to get info on it (even though I didn't want to buy it). He kindly responded by sending me pics of his big block setup.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/pts/6039141046.html

If you contact him, he'll give you info and some help. He has Ebay shorty headers on his 440 Dakota.