198ci
for a daily driver, what year 225 would everyone recommend for all around ease of maintainance and driveability?
Well, the '81-up engines have hydraulic lifters so never need tappet clearance ("valve") adjustment, but the camshaft they use is wimpy, there's a
much smaller selection of aftermarket cam grinds available, and you have other issues that can compensate for the periodic nuisance of having to adjust the valves. So I tend to prefer the solid lifters unless the application makes it impossible to remove the valve cover and get at the adjustors.
Beyond that, maintenance and driveability are mostly a question of what's bolted onto the engine. Various intake manifolds and carburetors, various ignition systems, etc. More specific specs on the car you are building an engine for, perhaps in a separate "help me spec my build" thread, will get you good answers.
(If you're choosing used engines and not building up a fresh one, the answer's easy: whichever one is in the best condition and runs the best).
