I don't understand how you can't afford to fix your current engine but can afford to swap a whole new engine in?
What are you wanting the car for? Your first post described it as a nice cool cruiser.
The poly is a great engine for this. My stock stroke 318 poly with a 4 barrel factory intake, 600 Holley, factory exhaust manifolds, 3.23 rear and about 3,800 lbs with driver, ran 15.3 @ 93 mph so it's fast enough for cruising around.
I'm stroking it just for fun, but honestly it ran like a watch.
Good solid reliable engines.
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