Most of the cars that are exempt can get away with a lot. Many of the shows are put on or have police presence and they pretty much leave people alone. There's some pretty wild rides around and people really love the classic cars here. They have open header contests.
You just need to dump the 1979 with the older engine. I don't think you would have much of a problem putting the HO engine in a 65 GTO or 67 Firebird. There's a lot more old cars to pick from out here, the salt does not get to them. I see cars all the time with DART blocks, huge Hemi's or whatever. Chevy 502's are pretty common at a car show.
The car gusatpos will get to a 1979 car with a 1969 engine. I've had a car inspected by the DMV, for VIN, stuff and they didn't ask anything about the engine.
Haul or drive it out here and change what you have to. Ot sell the body and bring the engine. There are still tons of speed shops here. Google Pasadena speed shops and where you currently live, I'll bet there are more around Pasadena. Nice community too. You could trailer it to the 1/8 mile in Irwindale (10 miles from Pasadena), Fontana, Pomona until you decide what you want to do.
Why do ya think the NHRA starts and ends the season here? Mickey Thompson was a local, NHRA Museum is here, Hot Rod Magazine and therefore the Peterson Museum, on and on. It's not like the post war car culture was created in Delaware. I even foud Big Daddy Ed Roth's shop on Slauson Ave in Maywood, not much to see, but it still exists.
Iskedarian, Edelbrock, the foundry's for all that stuff was out here and some still are. I wouldn't bag everything.
Impossible to be happy with the politicos, it's all left, no middle or right. Tax the citizens and give it to the immigrants, and there are plenty.
Route 66 car show is coming up in September. It probably won't be what it was during a booming economy, but still plenty of nice cars. Check out the online pics when they get posted. SEMA is not far away (LV,NV). Here's link to the coming months car shows and the NHRA Twighlight cruise is cancelled because of the fair, so it's not on there.
http://www.socalcarculture.com/events.html
You can always say "to hell with it" and move back.
Greg