One of my favorite rods belongs to a buddy in CO. He wanted to get a Dearborn award sooo bad & resto'd a 40 ragtop. He was denied the award by an idiot judge, who wrongly deducted points (politics?).
He was so mad that he went home, lowered it, put on big & littles, duals w/Smitties, & added the most killer hopped-up flattie you ever saw!
Now, that's a hot rod to die for!

IMHO, You have the same opportunity here.