TJ, I say go with something different motor wise and drop in a 300 straight 6.

They are easy to come across, they are tough as nails, put a Offy or Clifford intake and carb on it as well as a nice header and a cam and that motor will be doing really good all while looking like a lowly semi stock six. You will get better fuel economy out of it and knowing you, it won't have enough power for you to go slidin sideways while taking an off ramp on 75!!