Are you wanting a street car for your daily driver or a race car for Super Street? If you make a competitive race car it's gonna suck as a street car and vice versa. It might run the number, but it won't be competitive. The Super Street/Gas/Comp guys are all running electonic delay boxes, watching them race is "BORING". Some tracks have a no electronic delay class and those are better.

You say you don't want the LS1/LT1 motors, but if you really want a quick street car that is still a reasonable daily driver, that is a great way to go. The other way is horsepower in a bottle(Nitrous Oxide), or some sort of blower set up. You mention that you don't have the money too spend on the LS1, but then say you want to build a tube chassis. Building a chassis that will be safe for the street and work at the track is way expensive. Just ask Blown Goat or ProZ28. Not trying to run down your idea, just trying to inject a little reality into the discussion.

There is a fellow here in town with a 70's Camaro, street driven, that is running high nines now, through he mufflers on street legal tires. He has the frames tied with an 8 point cage and ladder bars. He has a built up 383 small block with one of the small street blowers and a 150 Nitrous shot. Without the Nitrous, it runs low 11s. He has the car stripped, minimum interior and even no inner fenders up front. It looks kinda raggedy, but don't line up against him. He chose the pre-75 camaro because that is the borderline for smog inspection. And speaking of smog legal, check your state laws. There are guys running smog legal EFI cars in the 11s here in CA.

I've rambled long enough, good luck with your project, what ever you decide to do.

Pat