Need some advice on choosing an engine

Wow, this is a great forum! Thanks to everyone who replied, I am definitely listening to all the advice and information.
To clarify things a bit, the car will never see a road course or autocross. It might not even get sway bars. It will spend most of it's time at a 1/4 mile dragstrip, and it will see street duty driving to and from local weekend car shows etc. It will never see a trip of more than 100 miles or so. No AC, no heater, no sound deadening, mostly aluminum interior, full roll cage.
Cornering isn't a big concern, I have another car I built for that stuff that I take to Bondurant a few times a year. The Valiant will be a straight line, fun burnouts, wheelie pulling (?) adrenaline rush.
I realize that a straight line car certainly does not need the aftermarket suspension I have planned. But for the 6-7 grand it costs, I will have a lot of adjustability, a ton more room in the engine compartment, and the adjustability of the four link will help me in terms of getting the car to launch straight and transfer weight better. For me, the cost is worth it.

And I also fully understand that when I'm done, I'll have $50K+ in a car that I might be able to sell for half that. But the fun of building it and racing it is worth the difference to me.

Thanks again for all the input, keep it coming!!

Garry

P.S. Andy, I ordered your book. Thanks!