[RPRICE]

REDB, I'm on my second SPF with 385 based engine. Good choice for street driving and gives the "sound" you want. First one was the Ford 460 crate engine. Ran fine, just wanted something different. The SPF with this engine is very street drivable. Third gear is like being in an automatic. Turn corners etc and never change gears. Current SPF has the aluminum Ford big block with 520 CID. Just as steet drivable as the lower hp crate engine, but only because I changed rear end to 3:08 from 3:73. The hp numbers are simular between the high end stroked small blocks and the mild big blocks. Difference is where the hp and torque is made. If you can't tell, I'm a big block low rpm/high torque guy. Just my driving style. The reliability is the same in these light weight cars. Let me know if I can be of help. I, like you was new to all this Ford stuff. And I'll have a screaming LS6 in an SPF before I'm done. There is a guy in the Midwest that has an LS1 in his SPF. Ran great the one time I was around him a couple of years ago.
Richard
Memphis