2.4 motors can be built to 2.9, can't they? That's close enough to 3.0, I would think. Are you building a race car or street car? Totally different objectives, a race car can have ALL of it's power at the very top, it doesn't matter. A street motor you want to have heaps of torque, I would think. Oh yeah, and drivability+ run good on pump gas, etc. And you have to weigh your investment of time/$$ vs. enjoyment you will reap from beast.
My '82 SC w/ the mods I am doing, (cams, SSIs, alum. pp, etc.), won't be the fastest car on the road, I drive next to 400hp cars every time I leave the house, but it will leap over slower traffic in a single bound and get 24mpg at 80mph on 87 octane. And deliver fun going to the 7-eleven. Just food for thought.
