As you say, it depends on the application. The answers are different for a daily driver versus a fast race car. My specific component recommendations are in the linked article.
And thanks for that article, Dan. You're a wealth of knowledge and always willing to share. While you may not have come up with the HEI swap, you certainly put all the information in one place, including part numbers and all. You probably don't get near the thanks around here you deserve. Thank you.
