Misfit,
Some of this is repeat, but it is real life experience with dyno sheets to back it up.. I just recently (end of Dec. 2003) built and dynoed a 427 built on a 63 center oiler block with Edelbrock heads and Victor FE intake. I used a mild Lunati solid cam (less than .600" lift), out of the box complete Edelbrock heads, out of the box Victor FE intake, JE pistons, speedpro rings, 428 CJ 1U crank, lemans rods, Holley 830 CFM with annular boosters. This was not an expensive motor by any stretch, and it made 554 HP (6100 RPM) and 567 Ft-Lbs (4600 RPM). With this smaller cam size you don't have to go crazy with valvetrain - I just used Harland Sharp rockers on factory stands/shafts. Also used all the hardware that came on the Edelbrock heads just the way they came. If you already have the block, crank and rods, you should easily be able to duplicate this with an additional $3500 in parts. Go ahead and use the CJ crank and Lemans rods - they are plenty good up to 6500 RPM and you can use the money elsewhere. You can get those lemans rods completely reconditioned with new ARP bolts for about $200. Find a CJ flywheel that is counterweighted so you don't have to buy the expensive mallory metal to internally balance the CJ crank. I'm assuming your $3500 does not include machine work or assembly, only parts and does not include the block and other stuff you already have.... If that is true you got it made. One more thing... be sure you tap and plug that extra little hole that goes thru the block in the
oil filter adapter area. If you don't, you'll be sorry.