They key is to use all the modifications suggested by Mark P, Az Coupe etc. Check out Mustang Geezers engine, and Mustangaroo. Read there posts, and if you want to delve back before November 2003, you will have to find the latest post by these guys, and then click on all posts by on there profile. There has a been a reshuffle of the search engine, you see. Also, CZLN6 is there too. There are lots more, Kastang, CobraSix!
The thing to focus on is making sure you keep the block shaved down to 30 thou below the stock 7.808" deck register. The use of Tempo pistons will help raise the compression, and the head will need iserting. Use the good US spec valves and guides, as the Aussie ones differ. The seals and kind of components should have a good name.
Define what type of running gear you want up top. Ricksmol's setup seems to have held up okay, but he did change back becasue of issues with the roller rockers he used.
Do not over size the exhast valves to stock post 1974 200/250 sizes because the hardened exhast seats you need to run unleaded will cut close into the water jacket when they are being installed. Jimbo 65 shared that a while back. He worked very, very hard to get his car ready for the summer, but head gasket and intake gasket problems, plus really tight clearances, timing woes made it too hard to sort. He's a very busy computer animator. Take a leaf from his experiences, and do some very thorough planning.
It's vital to make sure you have correctly indexed cam bearings if the engine is rebuilt. It's possible to use the old ones if they are free from crazing. The V8-spec rod bolts and stud kit for the main bearings are good insurance. Ensure the oil pump is in good shape, and replace the screen on the oil pump...these are anodised to pick up metalic fragments.
Things like uncleaned oil galleries, or missing allen bolted gallery plugs, backwards gaskets, exhast bosses from the Aussie head which collide with the aftermarket American spec gaskets, sealing of all gasket faces of the manifolds, the normal Holley woes of tunning the carb, or people who do nasty things when grinding the stock cast iron rods most of these engines run...they are issues. Sometimes, the pushrods suffer problems. Do a search of Frenchtown Flyers posts in the 240-300 Bix Six forum. He makes his own!
