Ed,
To add to what you were describing, here's a link:
https://kugelkomponents.com/focus-v-8/
Don't really know whether it is still viable...
Looked at these before I built my 1981 Mercury Zephyr wagon with the 557, but that's another story.
There was a dealer for these near me in Tavares Florida who had a couple of them built and could supply parts when I visited him around 7-8(?) years ago. I almost put the 557 into a Focus wagon instead, as it clearly would fit, along with the automatic and 8.8 axle. Would have been a fun car, then and now.
Sorry for continuing the hijacked thread,
Tom