Should I keep the straight six or go V8

[markallen]

i am in almost exactly the same predicament except i have a 250...i have a 3.07 rearend and a t-5 transmission and i get around 15 mpg...however i know a guy in my car club who has a 350 with a 700r4 and is getting around 32 mpg. i kinda want to keep my 6 because a hopped up one is really cool and you can get close to 300 hp out of a 250 and ive heard you can get way more from a 292. on the downside performance parts for a i6 cost waaaaaayyyyyy more than for a 350. and by the time you rebuild a 6 you could have bought a crate 350 and i have heard that when you put a cam in a 6 they wont hold up to it.