As I've just said on jumbos post my first saff was 380 bhp and rwd. Would peak 32 psi on a t35 and it was a bit lively in the wet nut wasn't how you think it might be in the dry. It won't just step out round corners and was perfectly usable. I just took it easy and sloly learnt how the car reacted and so on. It's a LOT more fun as i found even when I got used to the power it was still fun to drive/arse out etc... Donor you certainly won't regret it.
And as for converting from 4x4 I looked at doing it too as it's a better engine to start with.