Your bad luck with your old engine just has you gun shy. All engines ultimately die of old age. These high torque engines were designed to do a lot of work under horrible conditions. If your current engine is in good repair, drive it as it was intended to be driven. Hard. (Within reason of course.)
Carl


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission