All good points. If I find out the motor is wasted and can't be rebuilt I don't see dropping a 318 in. The car needs everything, and I think it loses a lot of its appeal if it becomes a commando look a like. It has set for 30 years. All the interior is now out, it needs everything from carpet to headliner and in between. The once pretty ruby red paint is now in need of sandblasting. I can't see throwing more money into the car if it's lost its original drivetrain appeal. Parting out the car and finding something else would be the direction I would lean. The budget allows for a rebuild if the motor is worth rebuilding. All I really want out of the build is a good running motor, any extra HP would just be icing on the cake.