Just curious, what would it tak to put a small block into an Aussie UTE? Headers, electrical, front end K member, motor mounts etc.

It is a normal Dart frame stretched 3" in the front to fit the 245 and 265 Aussie Hemi. Of course everything on the firewall and k-frame are Aussie only because things like the steering, master cylinder, and other accessories are on the opposite side for the right hand drive. They put V8's in the Aussie Charger, so you can either use parts from them (good luck finding those parts) or make motor mounts. This is the 70 VG ute I bought off of Ozhemi...

Down in Aussie the conversion is very simple but where you are not so. The brake booster and Master Cylinder are on a special offset bracket to clear the offset engine unless you run a straight master cylinder without booster.. You will need the remote oil filter pipe work as fitted to all Aussie V8s because the RHD steering box is in the way of the normal oil filter fitment on the LA engine block as they are in the US or left hand drive. The K frame has to be changed to suit V8 mounts but there are now mount Kits available locally to fit SB and BB engines to our 6 cyl Valiants, tail shaft or drive shaft are the same if you use a 904 behind the LA engine and then of course you have to upgrade the radiator. See attacment and that should explain everything inc the Aussie designed engine oil pipe work which actually works very well. The accelerator cable has to be changed for a V8 one, easily available down under.

i wonder why the remote filter mount couldn't be made to position the filter pointing down, thereby preventing a big mess changing filters ?

What we do is punch a hole in the top of the filter with a screw driver or what ever and leave it for a few minutes. Then there is very little mess.

Substitute a proper hose for the filter hard lines and you can put the filter anywhere you want.
I like that adapter - better than having to tap the block, if it's in the car.

Mopar performance made a 90* adapter for the small blocks.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/DCC-5249624

Unless you update with Rack and Pinion steering you cannot fit the right angle adapter due to the steering box which is bolted to the RH chassiss rail being in the way, hence the pipe work designed by Chrysler Australia in the mid 1960s and used until 1981.