great info guys - thanks.
ok, complete homer simpson dunce on the stroke thing, so maybe i meant overbored.
i know guys runnning FEs (390/406, 427S/O, 428 and 390/454) in cob reps in the UK, all have used
http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com/ with no major problems, so ive been thinking about their 406 FE which looks like very good value for money, coupled to their toploader option (with the small input shaft and 28 spline output) as a turnkey solution. It took me more years than i want to admit to get the last car on the road (w/e only in the garage, job changes/house moves/kid/etc etc), and i want to do drive this one round the Nurburgring in less than 2 years, and without a bank loan.
the rear end is a jag XJ6 with a 2.88 diff.
cheers, Kevin