Couple of things . . How "Old School" are ya gonna get? Real "Old School", late 50's, would find a guy putting whatever V8 he could find in whatever he had and then making it run better n' better as he went . .
Or . . If you're gonna race it, "Old School" dictates that you rebuild or replace your little SBC frequently, because you always asked more from it than it could give . . So start with something that's cheap to fix or replace . .
Heheheheheh, I know there's SBC Freaks out there that just clenched their fists and jaws . . but been there and done that . . Between a B/Gasser with a 310 SBC and a Jr. Fueler with much the same engine back in the late 60's, that's an "Old School" I don't wanna go back to . . It was fun when I was young . . I ain't young any more!
But different strokes, I guess . . .
Merry Christmas, guys . .