Wow that sounds like such a cool project! I wish I had the budget right now to build a bad engine and get a tremec transmission. Not in the cards. I have a few 318s and a 340 to choose from for blocks. Stock forged cranks. J heads. And a NewVenture 5 speed from a 2wd 1500 truck. Gonna have to drive it easy to make it last a whole rally, but I think it will hold up for a while.