[mrp_e]

i just went through a similar deliberation. i was already set on Superformance, but debated used vs. new. I picked SPF over anyone else (in this price range) due to the period correct look of everything, down to the smallest details like the Smith and Lucas guages. quality and reputation were very important too, but it was the cosmetic accuracy to the original that i liked.

I went with the guys in Ross, OH and picked a Ford 460 crate motor, rated at 550HP. Eric put it on the chassis dyno, did stuff to it and bumped the rear wheel hp from low 400's to about 413hp i think.

1,300 miles so far since getting her about a month ago. the engine sounds and looks fantastic, pulls like crazy, and i have zero regrets. i live in NYC, and keep the car up in Mass, so I can relate to the worry over distance. The answer is to find somebody near, and that's the nice thing about these hot rods - no shortage of people, it seems, who specialize in big (or small) block Fords.

PM me if you want to know more.

Oh, and you can get that set up for under $60K. Unless prices have gone up in the last 60 to 90 days...