As much as I personally like the straight 6, the SBC 350 V8 is a good engine. The 350 parts will be cheaper and easier to find. The engine will be easier to tune (as more people have knowledge on how to tune it).
That being said, straight engines (with multiples of 3 cylinders... i.e. 3, 6, 9, 12, etc..) are inherently balanced engines. V8's are NOT. There is a reason you see them on BIG STRONG tractors, trucks, etc... and not the bent engine counterpart.
I'm currently looking for a 292 to tweak a little and put in my 58. Should not be too difficult to get 300 ft/lb, reliable torque at 3500 rpm. Racers want to talk about HP, but when you want to get work done talk about torque.
Know what kind of engine BMW just spent years of time developing to put in there new HOT sedan... a straight 6. Wonder why? Because they are good engineers, not good ole boy racers.
