[olddog]

A few quick points.

1) 450 Hp can be made with a 289 and any Windsor, Cleveland, FE, or 385 series engine.

2) Flow through the heads is what makes the power. The better the heads the less cam needed. Cylinder bore limits valve size, which affects flow. Displacement moves more air. Small ports and valve size, requires high lift, high duration cams that give poor street manors. Large displacement engines with good heads can make power and have good street manors.

3) Large displacement engines do not need to turn high rpm to make power, and the torque curve is much flatter. Thus they have good street manors and longer lives.

4) You can stroke a 390 to 440ish cid, if you want to spend more money for bragging rights on all the Hp that you cannot hook to the ground. Or just go with a 390 and save money. Visually a 390 block looks like a 428 or 427 center oiler.

5) It is always cheaper and easier to stay with the engine family that a car is set up for. Include those costs with a Windsor when comparing the price of a FE.

Good luck