Just put it in the water tonight for the first time. Everything checked out OK, transmission, drive, engine maintained 180/190 degrees throughout some serious flogging. Now its time to get busy on rebuilding the seat bottoms and getting the interior back together.
I used a 454 that I already had. Not sure how much hp its pushing but seriously doubt if its over 350-375. I knew it ran and in the interest of not spending too much right now went ahead and put it in. I'll build something stronger for it over the winter cause I can already see its begging for another couple hundred HP.
I need a better set of exhaust manifolds immediately if anyone has some laying around.