Benoit,
By the way you've rattled off sizes of standard strokes and bores and have a good handle on reasonable hp expectations for 2110 vs. 2275, it sounds like you've already done quite a bit of homework.
I agree with Jim, more power is more fun -- until 200 hp when you start to have more power than you can routinely have fun with.
I built my engine, a 2332. Although not nearly as highline as Jim's, it still has lots of good stuff. Like you, I had a pretty good mechanical aptitude, but had never built a hot-rod engine before and knew nothing about air cooled engines.
I learned a ton -- each time I built the engine again and again to correct a mistake (or just to open it up again to make sure I didn't actually make the mistake I thought I might have). In the end, the engine is now very reliable, it has over 10,000 miles in it's most recent configuration, and I trust it. It does require frequent tuning checks and touch-ups, but that has to be expected with any high performance engine. Most important is that when its time to GO, it does! Although, I'm sure it will rev well past 6500, I almost never do. Public roads have a certain limitation for all-out hot rodding (these cars will get to 80/90 in 3rd real quick. Where and how often are you going to be doing that?) In real life, it spends probably 90% of its running minutes below 3000 where it is perfectly happy to putt-putt around all day.
A couple of things I can advise you on at this point. First, if you think you are going to save money by building your first engine yourself, that might be a bad thought. Each mistake along the learning curve is GOING to cost more money. Second, do your research (like you are doing)to get a good handle on what you want. Then go to one reputable source (like CB Performance) and get the entire engine's build parts from them.
Going to a single source assures a good chance you will get the right parts that fit together. You'll get the same parts they would use if they built the engine for you. Nothing is more disappointing than to learn that the fancy piston rods you got on ebay are not the right length to go with the crank, or something. Now you gotta buy new rods, or a new crank. So you buy a new crank, only to find out the journals don't fit the bearings that fit the other crank. See what I mean . . . . ? And, there's nothing to prevent you from making these kind of mistakes. It's presumed if you are buying an 84mm stroker crank that you must know what you are doing, and why. So if you don't know exacly what and why, get the whole engine from a single source of matched parts.
Anyway, those are some thoughts.
Mark
