Hyper pistons have their place IMHO, in engines that won't see forced aspiration or NOS. True, they won't stand up to detonation well, but an engine should not do that anyway if it is set up right, surely detonation is a symptom of an incorrect build/set up.
Hyper pistons do run much tighter bore clearances than forged - no piston slap at cold. And let's face it, there are millions of production vehicles out there quite happy with hyper pistons, many with far higher specific power outputs per liter than these dinosaurs.
Andy - thanks for asking, I'm fine thanks, annoying these good (and some very bad) American folks on a regular basis these days.
Your spec is fine for what you want out of your car, but...... I still would advise against that
oil pump - you are asking for distributor drive gear problems if you go with it, do a search here for similar tales of woe. A street engine, built to street bearing clearances, and with the kind of rev limit you propose will be more than happy with the std pump. Make sure that you check the clearance between the pick up and the bottom of the sump - stick to manufacturer's recommendations.
You may be too far down the road to change, now that you have some parts on hand, but I still think you should consider the 351 as a base. Overall engine dimensions should not be a problem in the GD - if a Cleveland will fit, so will a 351W. And how many GD's are there in the UK with Chevy 350s? D*mn their eyes.
Your performance expectations WILL change as you get used to your car - you WILL want more power!!
However - always remember that is is YOUR car, you build it just how you want. Putting a Ford engine in a GD is a fine thing to do!
