If you are going to be a bear, why not be a grizzly? I'd stroke that Hemi, get a minor port job on the heads, 3/4 roller cam, 10.5:1 compression.
Look, the 425-460 horse of a stock Hemi was a big deal in 1966-1967. Today, it's nothing. Don't embarrass the Hemi legend by building an engine that won't keep up with the LS.
The factor of embarrassment is based on the stroke?
If so I'll put 10k up against this car heads up no matter what displacement it ends up at.
No. It's the whole package. He says it is a purely street car, not a race car. But inevitably, he will be rolling down the freeway at 70 and some other hot car is going to pull up along side and floor it. He will be a lot less likely to be embarrassed if he has 650 horse under the hood than 450. And it is a whole lot easier and better street mannered to make 650 horse with the extra stroke.
I really don't care if I win or lose in a situation like this. The car is more a bucket list to own for me than anything combined with a nice cruiser. I can smash every one in a great while just for grins. NOT something for street creds or bragging rights in any way shape or form
Im probably at least a year away, maybe more for giving this real serious thoughts on how to actually build ,,,or not.
I truly understand the desire to go that route. But Im simply not the kid I used to be that wanted a top level fast car like that.
That said,
If I pull it down and happen to find a crank issue . Then I will give some serious thoughts to build it with a little more
ummmmph 
