Mac.. ha imagineering, I like that !,, im sure if it could be done....
i'll share this with you... 3 equal parts turpentine, brake fluid and 20/40 engine oil. strip the block till all you have is block and seized pistons in place. ( No crank + a rag tied around the crank end of the con rod... at this point best to do each cylinder one at a time or it gets somewhat messy..
ok.. so pour in enough to keep the top of the piston under about 1/8" liquid, and let sit for 1/2 hr or a beer. then a piece of 2 x 3 (wood ) and FBH ( fairly big hammer - 2lb ballpein I used ).
empty the bore and anywhere between a couple light taps on to the wood, through a good couple of whacks and It should let go..
save that 354 !
this worked where a local engine reco company gave up and had wrecked the bore with a flat screw driver !
I think you are right about the poly and LA 318 bellhousing, think that is what they've been doing here too.
great so other than V6 to V8 motor length for mounts this seems perfectly do-able,, possibly as im going to end up building a scratch build frame that difference may not affect me as much as firewall shape...
Thanks Crate
(Al)