Ok....so here's a feeble attempt to get back on the topic of the thread.

I understand your desire to build a motor to wind up and take the 10 grand; but, since you're both building small blocks and are following those build constraints..... I think you're in a bit of trouble. If it was a big block, I'd say you have a shot due to the price constraints and the fact that it costs more to build a big block; but, then no NOS is really gonna hurt you.

You could always try the infamous banana in the tail pipe trick coined so popularly in that movie Beverly Hills Cop...

Good luck to you though.
Dutch