Well I would go with a 350 if I had more money to drop into it. I am not using big money parts so they are more likely to break like my trenny. It is a fresh rebuilt T-5. They can't handle much torque, atleast the ford ones couldn't. So I have a 5-speed that does not like a 350 and some 4.11 gears. So why don't I just rev a lsmaller motor? I have a steel crank 283 for free. I can bore it to 301 or find a early 327 block and make a real deal 302. My understanding is a 283 crank is better for reving than a 305. This is just a beater truck to haul motors and stuff from the house. Including 96 s-10, camaro 16's, rebuilt T-5, and a 283 I have about $800 in a clean s-10 so far........