Big horsepower 318 builds

PRH said
I don’t see anyone saying it can’t be done.
I think what it boils down to is..... when it comes to actually laying down your $$$ and building it......it would appear(by the shear lack of abundant 500hp 318 builds) that most people opt to get those extra hp that you get from the added cubes....... and not spending any more for it.

It’s just economics.
Same reason 440’s are more popular than 413’s, and 400’s are more sought after than 361’s.

I’d love to see someone step up and do a legit, dyno tested/verified 500hp build with a stock stroke 318.
Show everyone exactly what it takes.

The fairly high effort enginemasters build came up 23hp shy.

Agreed.
You don't see them because they don't exist in nature outside of the local cruise night and usually the only proof is the owner's mouth. Show me a 500hp 318 on a dyno and I'll point out the lack of any belt driven accessories, hood clearance limitations, and a real exhaust. Aside from pushing the power band up, I think the stroke and bore size is more of a limitation than we think in terms of having good heads "available".