My requirements... what to build?
And for the engine if you want to keep numbers matching and have lots of streetable power I would just do a stroker kit and have a 390 Stroker. It would just have gobs of off the pedal torque and you could even put a relatively mild cam in it and have everything you want... My-2..
That is a darned good thought, JP.
OP, if you are OK with the heads being aluminum, then you will get all the brething you will need at your HP range from any AL head that is out there. Makes it all pretty easy tot make HP.
As for fuel mileage, just don't go to wild with the cam size. A wider LSA like 112 will make the torque curve a bit wider and smoother (easier to cruise to the ice cream store with the wife) and will help fuel mileage. Not a lumpy idle.
As wrym has noted, the cam, head, and piston all get selected as a working package.
As for rear gearing, the 3.55 seems to be the odds-on favorite compromise gear for these cars. Not great for day-long cruises at 70+ mph with a 3 speed, non-overdrive trannie but it sounds like you won't be going too far.
BTW the 21 mpg listed above in Australia converts to around 17 mpg in the US.
