period engines are too weak to live happily in modern traffic.
I have to disagree with that. There's many of us here, myself included, that use our trucks with the original or period engines as daily drivers. We have no issues with "modern traffic". I easily keep up with highway traffic running 75+ mph.
Well, my Suburban has a mid '70s 250ci L6 in it with a th700r4 trans, I can drive it all day at 75mph, but I know how long it takes to get to that speed, even worse if the on-ramp is slightly uphill!... And let's not mention headwind! I have even lost several mph in highway speed by adding an outside sunvisor! I have driven my truck 3500 miles in a week a couple of years ago, I know it could be better. And as much as I hate loosing the L6, a V8 is on its way: the highway cruising speed may not be much better but simply more pleasant to drive.
Of course, you do what you want with your truck, someone asked for opinions, here is mine, not everyone will enjoy driving a period engine on long distance trips, this needs to be said.
