[olddog]

In $/Hp terms, the 460 engine is the best choice, but I do not think you are going to get very far with $2000. Your best bet would be to buy used. Note the 429 and 460 are the same except for the stroke (385 series engine). Some early 429 CJ engines had better heads.

In terms of ease to build, the FE (390, 428 family) is the hardest to work on and requires the most knowledge to build. Shops with a great reputation building small blocks have been known to totally screw up an FE.

Watch out for large truck engines in both FE and 385 series. They have some undesirable differences.