[Speedbump_]

Knee issues . . . you may encounter issues getting in and out of the car unless you can avoid putting weight on your bad leg. Is there any patella damage such as chondromalacia? If so, carefully consider your decision because as you know, the patella is basically a fulcrum.

Will this be a SB100 car? If the answer is yes . . . . your options are considerably more numerous. If SB100 is in the stars, and you are considering a stroked 302, think about using a thicker aftermarket DART block. As afootnote, a number of engine builders in the LA area have found a precipitous drop in the number of good recycled 302 blocks.

If you go to a 347 stroker with a sturdy rotating assembly, heads with excellent flow characteristics, a matching cam, and a hi-flow intake manifold with a good carburetor - you can easily get 520-530 hp at the crank and 420-450 intorque. But as for the transmission . ..

Unless you plan to modify the automatic transmission to withstand the torque, an off-the-shelf 4R75W will work just fine. However, you will need a control module for the 4R75W.

Now to the bigger concern. Have you ever driven an ‘open-top’ in Southern California during the summer to say, Las Vegas? I'm sure you know that at the 60/15 transition temperatures state going up and will range from 95 to 115 degrees with ultra-low humidity (which is where you will discover why hot, dry moving air is used to dehydrate fruit and vegetables) all the way to Las Vegas and back.

But the clouds have parted. . . Lucky You. There are places in LA County where you can rent a 427 Cobra replica and experience your dream without the downside if you discover the ride was too harsh, or several hours of loud monotonous side-pipe tone was not what you expected.

But on the other hand, you may discover the drive was the world’s most exhilarating experience you've ever had!

Hope this helps.