Hi Brian
I just finished my SS7 last november with an o-200. I have 50hrs on it and am quite pleased. I'm old school also, and besides that i had the engine before deciding on a kit. And i knew that i could rebuild it, which i did. I went with a whirlwind prop for looks, weight and performance. I think one of the things i like best is taxiing along with the put, put, put idle sound. Nobody expects to hear that and have been asked several times what engine is in there?
The down side is the added weight. But my balance came in perfectly and i can fly my wife and i, full fuel and 150lbs of baggage and be under 1550lbs.
Ken