Little bit of a rant about Mopar heads...

I think in order to use the later block you have to run GT... don't you? Otherwise it has to be a factory available engine package... Meaning the flat tappet block, hydraulic flat tappet cam, etc. The tricks with SE are all over the place. teh car should be about 100lbs lighter than minimum with you in it, and the ballast can be made movable to account for traction issues with different track preps. You should be able to run 1 secind under the index regardless of weather. I'm thinking the index is closer to 13.2 if the record's 12.18 but it's been many years since I looked at a rule book. The transmission needs to be a prepped 904 because there are tricks to be had there. The record setters use C4 internals IIRC. A 727 won't cut it, and I'd talk to Lenny at Ultimate about the convertor because they are also special. One of my mentors years ago had multiple Stock Eliminator records in D/S, E/S, F/S, and M/S with a Ford. The M/S was a 351 Cleveland with a 2bbl. The cmashaft development alone was crazy. IIRC he averaged 5 cams a year sorting packages out, all custom ground. If you want to have fun, have fun with the understanding that you will more than likely not win many races or money. It gets expensive if you can't win at least rounds and contingency consistently and these guys are the most unassuming, most competitive, most tenacious, and least talkative racers you'll meet. If they are giving you "a trick", don't do it because it will slow you down or make you inconsistent...lol. I'm sure I never would have been able to learn anything from him had he believed even for a brief moment I might run a Ford or personally know any other SE racers.