True enough "fun" is all realtive. But I'm thinking this fella is wanting something to slap on and go and not be the slowest ride on the road or at the track, you know be able to hang w a turbo neon and the likes.... (I always find it sad and it kinda angers me that ford put us so far behind the curve) So I'm thinking realistically and the cheapest way to achieve this would be to get some sort of alum heads. Skip the bolt on crap for now and go right for the throat. All those pesky boltons may keep the hobby alive but will nickel n dime you to death for little gains. Ps: boat anchor because it'd sit in his garage until he had enough money for a rebuild. This isn't a shot at you just a question, would you really buy a short block and put the stock topend back on and not the other way around if you could afford only one half? Well lemme retract, say it wasnt burning oil or anything.I don't see how that would be a boat anchor. I understand if he wasn't capable of building properly. In road course you don't need much HP to have "fun" and if it was drag racing you can run stock as possible with 75 shot for extra fun. Wouldn't be any 300 hp but fun enough...