sparker, I think you understand this already, but for the sake of the archives I'll say it. Trying to make the thing work with bracketry, without a solid mounting to the block located very close to the intake port, is unlikely to work well for any length of time and will absorb quite a lot of time and effort. As you said yourself, for $20 you can get a block in good condition, most likely with a good engine along for the ride. You are doing what many of us did in our youth, but now tend to dismiss as "a half-assed job".
In case it is relevant, later if not now, the rule of thumb I use, and I think many engine repairers use, is "Always fix it so it would be good enough for a paying customer". By doing that we save time and materials, and every job we do is useful experience. Doing half-assed jobs is not useful experience: it doesn't teach us anything that we can use to help other people.
I'm not claiming that you aren't entitled to do anything you want to your own engine of course, and if you enjoy doing it, and aren't trying to learn the "right" way in any case, by all means go to it.
Now that I've convinced you I'm either an arrogant swine or an insufferable know-all, I'll desist.
