Your engine will last ages if you treat it right. The engine in my CEN car is 4 years old, and has had gallons through it and it still goes as strong as ever with full compression etc...
As long as you follow some break in procedure ie run it rich for a while then lean it out your engine will be ok. I agree with shoestring racer that the best method is to get it up to temp fast and run it.
I would also like to know the difference between a Torq engin and a none-Torq.
***? Am i missing something?
Torque is the pulling power you get from an engine, is what gives you your acceleration, its partially linked to horsepower but not directly. Torque is more important in an engine than horsepower. It can be improved in no end of ways...by porting the engine etc, this also increases horsepower...
Cheers
David