I don't mean to bust your balloon, but if you are "doing this on a budget", you're ALREADY f*cked! I've built/restored 23 vehicles from the ground up - there is NO SUCH THING as doing this on a budget! Get out your calculator, figure up with the GREATEST "due diligence" that you possibly can how much time and money it's gonna take, right down to the LAST nut & bolt - then DOUBLE both #'s; THEN you'll be "close"! A ridiculously simple formula that I've been using for 40 years now, which has proven itself out over the test of time! Oh, and don't forget to factor in "the pioneer factor" too; and you know what they say about pioneers, doncha? "Pioneers are the ones with the arrows in their BACKS!"

I don't mean to rain on your parade; in fact, I hope to someday introduce a V8 into my own VX. But when that day COMES, I also expect to be spending a HUGE pile of $ to "get it right"; which means "Chip Foose Quality". Take it from the old guy - don't back off the FIRST bolt on that VX until you're ready to make the big commitment(s) of time & money; otherwise, you'll just have a pile of parts over in the corner five years from now...