oldironchevy, I may have had one of the few good ones back in the mid sixties but it was strong one for the time. It had the tri power and never gave one bit of trouble. After a lot of drag races it finally broke a ring. I rebuilt it and 40 years later I'm still caring the scars from a 2a.m. wreck that wrinklled it very bad. It had long been past the 120 and still getting up!! I put the engine in another 58 body, sold it and the fellow who bought it rolled that car. It later went into a 1960 coupe and the guy drove it for years. This guy still has THAT engine in his basement and will not part with it for love of money. SO, I had another 348 at my brothers machine shop torn down, ready to rebuild for a 40 chev. sedan project. I ended up selling the 40 sedan and then sold the 348 engine to a guy in New Bern, N.C. for $425 including an intake for one four, and an intake for 2x4's along with a new water pump and couple other goodies. I wish I had never sold it now. It would look darn good in the 52 panel project. The engines are still out there and maybe a bit pricey. I know you can rebuilt one very nice for a lot less than $7000 unless you just dump it off and come back later and pick it up at a machine shop. So, I vote put the 348 engine in it. It will look nice and a great conversation piece. Go for it.
