Sorry guys, didn’t want my question creating controversy,.... my original goal was a low RPM torque grunter, that’s why the out-of-box HT383e’s 444 torque at 3000RPM appealed to me, because my truck’s 4x4.
I’ve built engines like L31max is describing (truly enjoy it too) in a 2WD S-10 with a hopped up 305HO (man, what a wild ride that was,....whiteknuckled quit a few dudes). And in a 67 Mustang fastback 390 original big block car (shouldn’t have sold that one). And in an 82 F-250 where I slide a 71 351 Cleveland 4barrel in it,... that was a slap ass smoker too. Several more not mentioned, over the years. All had intakes, cams, lifters, headers, etc changed.
My last build was a 57 cab, 58 front end clip, 56 bed 3100 Chevy Apache truck, sitting on a 74 3/4 Ton 4WD frame. Pulled an 88 454 4WD engine, trans, xfer case, springs and axles and slapped underneath,.....it was cherry. Couldn’t stop at a gas station, without talking to people for 10 minutes. I spent over a year building that truck, then, some sorry *ucker stole it from me. Never saw that truck again.
For this one, I was going for tough dependability, that will stomp a little *ss when I wanna play,.....hahaha. You know what I mean,.....