its been bothering me a while, do ST 170 Engines survive in the RWD configuration without oil surge issues using a stock sump.?

No.

Can you even get enough ground clearance ? The engine tilts back in the focus. Standing it upright then puts the pick up at an angle. The bowl is at the front with a big tunnel for the exhaust.

We cut and shut the sump and altered the pick up angle and baffled at the same time - instructions were on a web site of a Fury builder near big_wasa in Spalding - Martin Fury???

Is the ST sump different to the Blacktop?

I just chopped my BT sump and pick up. No baffles and it's very happy years later after lots of abuse including several track days.

No they are the same