mine was a rerung dished piston '79 with a little home porting by me on the heads, RPM air gap, eddie 1406, comp XE262, comp 901 springs, cheapie headers, low gear 904 (later A500) MP 166K lockup converter, 3.55's in a B body 8.75, 27" tires in my 5th ave, that is 3950 without me. it was conservatively a low-mid 14 second ride. would keep up with a bone stock 5.7L 300C.

I sold the motor and replaced it with a roller cammed, mag headed 318, lost a little low end, but no top end. the lost low end could be switching back to the stock 1200 stall converter after finding a crack in the hub of my 166K (which stalled ~2300-2400 behind the 360)

I'd use the small block, it'll be much easier, don't have to mess with the radiator or tranny.