So Frustrated!

the only thing that I can tell ya is, at the junk yard, they don't care how much crap you pull off the engine! hell, pull the heads off. also I would go with an 89 or newer roller LA engine. Usually a conversion van in the j-yard would have a good rebuildable core 360. I bought a whole van ('89) for $450 and pulled the engine then took the rest back for scrap and got 300 back. then I sold the 727 for 150. The block in the van was mint, don't even need bored. usually the "conversion" type vans have led a cushy life usually owned by elderly people. Magnums engines will run for 300,000 miles if taken care of due to the fuel injection.