Please help... Engine decision?

[Vegas69]

I'm a big block guy myself. I always wanted a 69 Camaro and big block growing up. All my cars had small blocks. I considered an LS7 but the old school convinced me otherwise. That's only a decision you can make. The LS motors are clearly the cheapest way to make good reliable power. EVERYBODY is doing it for a good reason. I'm just not everybody. Used big blocks go pretty damn cheap. You may want to consider buying one from a stalled project at a discount. Building a big block from scratch isn't cheap. Then I'd throw an EZ EFI on it for a mix of old school and new. A 489,496,502,509 will all make 550-600 ft lbs easily with a wimpy cam and keep you in that sweet spot for the EZ EFI. If you want to push the envelope and I wish I would've a little more. You can go mechanical cam and a little higher compression and make 650-700hp with a wilder combo. You just need to keep in mind that takes you into a more expenisive injection system and rules out power brakes completely. You will need to be super careful even with a hydaulic cam for power brakes.