another 383 build up Q

well, most imports you will find at stop lights can be easily beaten by an almost stock 340 in any RWD. The really fast ones cant get traction (unless it's the WRXs or AWD Mitsus) until 3rd, and have to shift a lot. A good sticking RWD with an automatic will take them for a 1/4 mile walk, even if they get close near the end...600 hp will get you into the 10s solidly with a car compromised to run 1/4 miles more than highways. Like BJR says, it's your money. Recently I was talking to a friend, and it seems to us like there are 2 types of car guys..Ones that do a build or resto wil the idea of having a beautiful car as an end result. The second has a goal to reach, and builds to meet the goal. Once the goal's reached, they sell it and buy something else to accomplish something else. so is your goal to have 600 real horsepower? Or is your goal to have a killer car? The end defines the means to get there. A customer I am doing a budget 451 for had to ask himself the same question, and he'll get the results he wants. A B body running mid 12s on pump gas, 3.55s and radials, with an engine budget of $4500, and that's for new everything, carp to pan, headers, distributor, and water pump. He wants to pull out the 383, and drop in this one. It's easy to do when you know what you need it to do. Hemi blocks are now available, yes. The new foundry is shipping again, and they are supposed to be good ones, able to go to the advertised 4.5" bore unlike the early ones. I havent done any hemi work other than tuning, so I cant tell you if they are everything they are billed as. Time will tell. But, with a $2K price (I'll bet you cant get your hands on one for under $2800), you'll need another $13K to get a complete engine running in a car, nevermind the other support stuff you'll need. But, there's nothing like a hemi at a cruise night. I think every town has a "Hemi So-and-So(insert your first name here...lol)" at a cruise night. Also, 600 hp you'll need to upgrade the whole car..subframe connectors, fuel system, cooling system, tranny, drvieshaft and rear plus suspension changes to hook with it. I can build a 10.0 second car for $15K, or build a 9 second engine for $12K, and you'll need another $8K for the support stuff. Of course, this is all opinion based on my experiences..and those arent everyones.