Thanks for the responses. I'm actually a member over on 4btswaps and have a very similar post over there.

I'm not set on doing all the mods at once but over time. Isn't the 617 iron headed? I like the fact that the newer ones have aluminum heads.

I'm not tied to using the 6cyl either, if engine depth limits me to the 4 or 5cyl then that's what I will have to use or consider other options. I plan to mount the motor as low and far back as possible to help with cog and front/rear weight bias.