Yes, the block does sound a lot but then when you factor in liners etc...it all gets a bit closer. I would want Mark Shead to build it. Anything over 600bhp would be too bonkers in my Pug as I can only get to about 205 tyre width and brakes that fit under 16's, I really dont want 17 inch wheels on a 205 shell. I would be more than happy with the max of 530 that my Turbo can run but a 2.4 / 2.7 would have the torque everywhere over the rev range and that is what makes a lovely road car IMO. I like the 25kg weight saving of the ally block as it is over the front axle. To be fair if my block is fine then it may be better to just use that but I want to avoid down time of the car so assembling bits first and then sell mine on after would save time.

Any thoughts on using the standard crank on any of these builds, be it std 2.0 or not if the target is under 600bhp. I know you can go for different stroke for better rod angles but wonder if that is better on higher rev engines or higher bhp?

If I could get away with just long studding my block, gas flow the head, pocketted pistons and cams then it neednt be a massive cost rebuild.

Oddly enough, I have put fresh oil in my car and fresh fuel and it seems to have cleared up a lot and only really smokes on start up cold map and sometimes when you give it a boot full on full boost and big revs. I can certainly soldier on for now.