DECISION TIME! 4.6 or 350 chev??

[presto]

Ok, about to start re-assembling the Dakar (full rebuild) and I have an important decision to make.. I'm trying to decide which driveline to use and these are my options..
I have a 4.6 bolted to an R380/LT230 OR
350 chev with a T400 box mated to the 3 speed transfer case.

I've got maxi drive axles, 4.11 diffs and plan on running either 35 or 36 inch tyres.

I'd rather use the 4.6 since I love the rover v8 sound and would like to keep it a manual, but I need to know whether it would have trouble turning the wheels and if I'd constantly have my foot down to get anywhere?
The Dakar / Bushranger is much lighter than a standard rover as some of you would know, but I do plan on hooking up a trailer and travelling around Australia at some point when the rebuild is finally completed.

So my big queries are:
Will the diffs and the T400 mean I'd be flat out going 120km/h?
Will the 4.6 be powerful enough to allow for effortless acceleration up hills on the highway and not have to pin it to get to speed?
I'll be using it for some moderate to serious off roading but need it to be comfortable on road too.
If anyone has suggestions or knows from experience what revs at what speeds, how much throttle to get it moving etc for either set up then please let me know! The more information the better since it's going to be the 'be all and end all' of my conversion!
Thanks in advance

[cloughy]

Wouldn't bother with a 350, but an LS1 or 6L

[presto]

Wouldn't bother with a 350, but an LS1 or 6L

If I had the option then I'd definately consider it! I have the 4.6 from my donor Rangie and dad has a 350 crate motor and the gearbox to suit it for his project Rangie and offered the swap. The Dakar had the 3.5 quad carby, then put in a 3.9 injected and buggered if I want to put another one in and regret it!
The chev would be carby and the 4.6 would have fuel injection - both on dual fuel. Installation would be easier with the chev but would it be chewing the fuel revving its guts out all day on the highway? Like I said, I love the idea of a manual and Range Rover noises, but I really need to know which of the two would be more suitable before I decide.

[DL]

Matt knows his shizz.

A 350 crate motor will happily cruise and be abused for half a million k's and has sufficient grunt to keep me happy. Newer Chevs have a lot more grunt along with complexity (ecu, etc) that isn't my gig. As far as the RR noise goes I hope you're not referring to the 'tick tick' of a slipped liner in a 4.6.

If all you want is the exhaust note a 350 (or LS anything) will bellow lower and louder than a Rover motor, yet sound somewhat similar with a twin or semi split system. AFAIK all V8's have the same firing order apart from the 'mighty' 308, so should all sound pretty much the same with the same type of exhaust.

cheers, DL

[Philip A]

350 chev with a T400 box mated to the 3 speed transfer case

.
What do you mean by "3 speed transfer case?"

If you mean the transfer from a TF727 in a Range Rover then you should not be overrevving on the highway as it is the highest high range ratio available and showed about 2200RPM at 100Kmh with std diff gears and wheels.

You will roughly the same if not a few more revs with 4.11 and 35s.

The 350 will obviously have lots more torque than a 4.6 at 2-3k revs and climb hills better as a 4.6 doesn't make a lot of power down low without a Thor manifold.
Regards philip A