As for smogging, don't worry, just find a running motor, and swap all the smog stuff over.
A buddy went and called on a ad for a 350 sbc years ago, and they wanted $500 for, and come hear it run. Well, he got there, and handed out the $ and didn't hear it run. It had over $2000 worth of Merlin heads on it!
He estimates the motor is pushing 500 hp. And the people who was selling it didn't know a screwdriver from a hammer!! You can find a diamond in the rough out there! Just takes patience. Some times you'll have to buy a beat up running rig, but you'll have to look. So, good luck!
