Best thing I could say is if your looking for good low to mid range power especially for towing your gonna need to go to a big block. A 400hp small block on the street and for towing like farm boy said probably wouldn't have the best manners or move the air plow. We'll say mpg doesn't matter because it won't at this point. So you could build a torquey bbc with peanut ports great low end for towing not too great at the track OR use some oval port heads that'll still give you some good low end torque for decent towing and get better torque at a higher rpm. Were talkin like a 454-460 cubes here. If you go with rectangle heads your gonna want more cubes so say stroke it to a 496. Gobs of low end and plenty of air to breath for the strip. That's your motor. Mpg doesn't matter throw some 373 gears in it maybe 410s. Now you got a good 60' time but your rpms are screaming on the highway. Throw in a or OD trans (4l80e) or put a gear venders of on the back of a th400. Problem solved. That puppy wil be pretty street able and stout. Give you an idea on cost Im going to be doing something like this just no towing in mind. Picked up a 454 from a rv$ 500, no accessories. My truck is a 87 c10 305 tbi with a 700r added up everything accessories to swap over is about $1700. Another say $500 used 4l80e and everything to swap it $1000. I'm not going fast yet still gotta build up the motor. Talkin heads cam Pistons maybe a bore. $ 2000ish. You'll be set just need to get about $5000 probably a little more fluids and random things we forget. You can do slot yourself just read and read.
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