Running a vendors behind my 904 very serious amount of hammer time 10 pounds of crap in a five pound bag, less than 1/4" of clearance , tti h pipe needed a flat spot but it's awesome
One other option for the smell is a good detail shop should have an ozone generator they do wonders and kill most anything it will de-mouse or mold in a days time
What you consider sub-standard works extremely well on my car ,it takes the twist out helping the launch. I certainly would not like the extra humps in the floor on a non- race only car . If its race only the cage will negate your extra work .I guess I have always done it wrong, every one I have...
mock up will most likely yield need to notch bottom of bores . connecting rod variables will affect, mine took minimal at the bottom only w/ stock 340 rods
I have had both types am running tti right now , they will make you sick when they rust after the cash outlay . I would run fenderwells again . Rb motor has more tire clearance as it sets higher
I run an xe272hl it idles at 600 pulls to 6000 all day long I run a Holley 850 dp on a single plane m1 . Cam is plenty mild brutal torque your cam is too small & 600 carb will run out of air around 4000 your talking less than a 340 cam which isn't much . A 404/416 needs lots of air bigger cam...