Hey Steve! Happy New Year and great work!!! I've been silently following along. If you decide to keep the car 383 powered as original, I have a 71 383 HP short block. It was remanufactured by a rebuilder years ago, its .040 with a steel crank, and doesn't have a lot of miles on it, but should be gone thru. I'm not sure what it came out of, but its a 71 block. If you are interested in it, let me know. For you the price is cheap.
Oh, and my 69 Charger is still awaiting your skills