I would go LS3, you can pretty them up quite a bit now by moving the coil packs and different more traditional inlet manifolds, rocker covers etc.
For a FF hot rod I would go LS3 supercharged with a
Harrop HTV 2300 non reversed so the throttle body is at the back with a hilborn style air cleaner on top.
The same guts of the supercharger as they use on the LS9. Drop in a cam and dont forget to take a change of underwear with you.
Bullet proof
more power than you could poke a stick at
light
will look hot rod right
Those FF kits look very good value for the money.