Reply to "What do you guys think of..."

Josh,

I will offer this suggestion because of your comment about building an engine that has good cruising gas mileage as a goal; investigate the Kenne Bell supercharger.

http://www.kennebell.net/techinfo/general-info/featuresofthekb.pdf

Build your motor around the smaller displacement fuel injected 5.0 Windsor (for fuel economy and more room in the engine compartment), and build the engine with enough durability for 18 psi boost. The Kenne Bell autorotor supercharger doesn't require an inter-cooler and doesn't produce boost at cruise, regardless of the cruise rpm. It provides boost instantaniously when you "get on it".

There is plenty of info, parts & support on this system to make it easy to build. Kenne Bell would be there to assist & size things for you. I'm sure this system (on a 5.0 motor) would fit in the engine bay & below the engine screen, but I don't think any Pantera owner has done a Kenne Bell system yet, which may appeal to you.

You could have a compact, lightweight 5.0 liter, 300 bhp, fuel injected windsor motor under the engine screen that would turn into a 600 bhp monster when you mashed the gas pedal.

your friend on the PIBB, George