ok to close this thread almost we have got a small block as i have listened to advice here so thank you all, it really helps if you lack direction.
it was a special order from a firm called real steel that the client cancelled.
its a 350 but with a few performance modifications done by the factory. it should sit at 300HP so i think thats enough power for me and as the same engine, the inlet and headers from mine will all fit.
i am working out with that particular aspect, it is all so much harder over here. you guys have it so so easy and it is all exact $ to £ in price here too.
but......finally after all the back and forth in my head, i am now one more step on my way to bringing her back to life

is the old engine scrap metal and tossed? or still possibly repairable and stashed away?

pretty sure it is going to be a coffee table. it was proper trashed though and was borderline repair anyway. i am stripping all the bits off it i need.

Go with the mercury remanufactured 383. Can pick them up for $7500 or so, complete. Nice package for the money and good match for what you are trying to do. Just may need to swap the couplers, not sure how the Volvos work for that

Whoops didn't read the posts on this page. Never mind lol