So Frustrated!

Thanks for the responses guys.

The 318 actually came in my 71 scamp I bought late last summer. They guy said the heads where ported and reworked. Didnt really say anything about the bottom end but I got the feeling he had it rebuilt by the way he talked. It had a 340 cam in it and when I pulled the heads sure enough they have been ported. Heads where very clean. No oil sludge etc. So I know the engine was apart. Had it all painted up pretty and all! When I test drove the car it didnt fire right off and actually took a little bit of time to fire. I figure they just slapped the carb on and never really tuned the engine. Engine seemed strong on the test drive. Hell the guy even had me lay rubber thru the intersection.

I started noticing oil blow by coming out of the breather and oil spots in the garage every time I drove it. I also noticed that I was blowing oil out of the tail pipes so something was wrong. I pulled the engine because the car is having new coat of paint put on it. Decided since the engine is out now is the time to have it checked. Well obviously its been checked and its very messed up!

The car is just a street car. Not racing it but wanted to hop it up and have some fun with it.

My brother has a very hopped up 383 that makes around 525HP he pulled from his drag car. That would require a bunch of modifications, different trans, headers, electrical, driveshaft, mounts, and who knows what else. I could be into that for about the same amount and that engine could blow half way thru the summer.

I've been tossing around just going to the junk yard and picking up a 318 or 360 magnum and throwing that in the car for now but Im not all up on the magnum swaps. I know the car is worthless with out a engine and something needs to be done with it. Is a 318 worth 2200 in engine shop work? Is it better as a boat anchor? Never looked at a crate engine, but I think those cost a ton more! I would love to hear more opinions about what to do for a engine