The key is "Biggest motor you can AFFORD".....

A lot of the buff magazines give the advice- "Always build the biggest motor you can afford."  The key word is "AFFORD" and a lot of gearheads lose sight of this. Let me explain. In some instances it's a no-brainer-for example-a 350 Chevy makes substantially more power than a 305, yet costs no more to buy or build. Ditto for a 360 Mopar versus a 318. However in other applications the waters become murky. For example-a 400 Pontiac with the Performer RPM package makes 422 hp and 441 lbs of torque. On a 455 it makes 460 hp and 500 lbs of torque. Is 38 hp and 59 lbs of torque worth another 3 grand? Which is about what it costs for the crank, rods, pistons, rings and bearings, and machine work to turn a 400 into a 455. Don't throw away a good 396 Chevy or 383 Mopar and then spend four grand you don't have rebuilding a junk 440 or 454. See what I'm saying?  A 302 or 347 Ford makes as much or more power than a 351W for less cost. Consider it all. Mastermind