Wow, 5 to 10 hours of driving...and then go wheelin? How many hours/miles are on this engine already, and how much is a "pretty good price"? It'll also be good to know at what temperature it runs. By the way, how did you "blow up" your 258? What exactly happened to it? I can see you'll definitely need something reliable, as well as something that's easy to repair and find parts for...and a smallblock Chevy is the answer. Whether or not this engine is the right one for you, it's hard to say. The reason I asked about the temperature is because of the compression and the smaller ports in the heads. More compression creates more heat. Smaller ports, especially if they're smaller than what that engine demands, will make the engine run a little "leaner", which also could create more heat. Even with the old theory that "Heat is Power", after a certain point, heat becomes detrimental to reliability...and reliability is definitely what you need, not power. Whatever happened to your 258 should partially determine what your next move will be. I have more to add, but I'll wait for your reply
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