I think I'm going to enjoy the slant for a while and then drop a v8 in...I apologize to all who've offered advice...I think tuning a /6 to get v8 hp is way out of my expertise
building a high powered slant isn't terribly hard tho. You have the desired slant block the 68-75 where pretty much all components are forged, except for the pistons. A company called Venolia makes different piston sizes(Std. .030, etc etc) in forged pistons. That is what I'm installing in my motor because after I do that I'll be cleaning the head up a bit smoothing out the cast iron and making it flow somewhat decent. I have my combo all figured out and it will run me about 5 or 6 grand to build it the way I want it. 8 to 1 compression ratio is perfect for a turbo engine which is what a stock slant came with. It's difficult and expensive I have to agree. But not out of anyones reach. My combo should be able to reach 500 hp with the right tuning and fuel and I should be able to tune it higher to make more power with higher octane fuel. I'm sure building a small block to that much would cost around the same.
My combo is running in essentially stock 225 slant 6, with forged pistons, ARP studs and bolts everywhere I can get them(bottom end, and head bolts are all available) I'll be running an ignition setup off a Ford Windstar because coupled with my MEgasquirt ignition system It offers the best control because as a turbo boosts you need the timing to change in small amounts to fight against detonation, because detonation = kaboom. I'll be running a Offenhauser intake drilled and tapped for fuel injectors in the intake runners for improved fuel distribution(a huge problem on single carburator slant intakes which is why a triple weber setup improves driveability and power) and a stock throttle body off a modern magnum engine. The turbo manifold? ether custom or I'll buy one if someone starts making them which will be hooked up to a single T61 Garrett ball bearing turbo(the most expensive part of this whole project last i checked these are 1600 bucks each)
As you can see it's taken a ton of research to find out what I need and where I need it. I've got probably one of the strongest slant 6 blocks that you can get coming to me(out of a 68 dodge truck, had more webbing and bracing then the car slants) But from this combo I can run almost 30 psi of boost and make over 1000 hp PROPERLY TUNED, which is why I will have the megasquirt that will enable me to tune it properly because I can monitor every aspect of the motor running and tune.
Good luck on what you decide to do but don't count out the lowly slant because one day I may coming flying by in my slant getting 20 mpg with as much hp as you
hehe just teasing
btw 360scamp thats pretty sexy wanna show me some more pics?
Offenhauser Slant 6 Quad Manifold fits 170, 225 5270 320.95
Offenhauser Slant 6 Valve Cover 5284 178.31
Offenhauser Slant 6 Engine Bolt Kit Stainless Hex SLANT6EKH 84
Clifford Performance Oversized Stainless Steel Valves 160
Fel Pro Engine Gasket Set 225 FEL-KS2116 62.39
Trans-Dapt Performance Products TRD-1113 Summit Racing Oil filter relocation kits 49.95
ARP Main Stud Kits ARP-142-5401 50.95
ARP Cylinder Head Stud Kits ARP-142-4001 94.95
ARP Connecting Rod Bolts ARP-142-6001 55.95
Comp Cams HighEnergyCamandLifterKits .440int./exh. Flat tappet lifters, double roller timing chain, valve springsCCA-K64-241-4 326.99
Melling OEM Replacement Oil Pumps MEL-M66C Standard volume/pressure 75.99
Melling Oil Pump Screen Assemblies MEL-66-S4 28.99
MegaSquirt I ECU Kit V2.2 900-0106-01 Black Case Glens Garage 145
MegaSquirt Stimulator Kit V2.2 900-0204 Glens Garage 45
MegaSquirt Relay Board Kit 900-0112 Glens Garage 65
Glens Garage Universal Wiring Harness Kit(by RSAutosport 900-1150 53
Auto-nomics Throttle Body without injectors 399
Auto-nomics Air Plenum Kit 80
Auto-nomics MegaSquirt Wire Harness 4 injector kit wires for 1 wire 02, gm spade conn. Coolant temp. Wire dia. 100
Auto-nomics O2 Sensor(EGO) 1 wire 26
Auto-nomics Weld Nut O2 Sensor 5
Auto-nomics Coolant Temperature Sensor 14
Auto-nomics Air Temperature Sensor 22
Turbo elements garrett T4/T61 TE61 GARH1 825
Tial 38mm Wastegate(Silver) TIAL3 215
Tial 50mm Blow Off Valve(Silver) TIAZ6 205
38mm Wastegate Flange 38M47 10
Venolia Slant six forged pistons 360
total 4058.42