These flights of "What If" thinking are interesting, but I prefer building more common stuff.
I understand that a free motor sitting over in the corner can eat away at your gray matter, but add up all the parts and machining.
What percentage would a 175 dollar You-Pick-It 360 magnum be? On a 1750 build (CHEAP), it's 10 percent. If your dream engine is 330 cubes, you are getting 30 extra cubes, almost 10 percent for that extra 10 percent in cost. We won't even talk about roller cam, better breathing ports, and less valve shrouding.
The first issue with RPMs seems to be piston speed. The second is valvetrain issues. Try to find the circa 1979 Car Craft issues that had Dyno Don's P/S Arrow in them.

If I wanted to be building or dreaming cookie-cutter engines I'd still be driving a Chevy 350. Where's the challenge in that?

If I had an extra $1750 lying around I'd be driving the "long-term stroker" in my '64Dog. I must not be in the "cheap" category, maybe mine is the "ultra-cheap". Paying for two households on one income with two kids in college will do that to you.

OF COURSE larger and better engines can be built, but where I live that 5.9 Magnum costs a minimum of $450 complete with 100K miles and a spun bearing or two. For $175 I can get a core 360 shortblock. So that free 318 block looks a lot better, because the stroker crank plus the free 318 are about the same cost as that $450 5.9.

The most important part, though, is the thrill of the chase. How can I do it better/faster/cheaper is what drives these flights of fancy. To me the alternative feels a lot like getting back to that 350 chevy.....

To each, his own taste!

R.

Cheap summit rebuild kits are $200
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Depar.../?Ns=Rank%7cAsc

Add in your dream pistons, rings, rods.
Don't forget doing something to the bores and the valves.
We won't touch on WP + coolant, OP + oil and filter, RTV, or other stuff you may already have.

I don't know where you live, so I don't know what's available local.

http://www.u-pull-it.com/
ENGINE- FUEL INJ (W/ACC.) 192.55 WO warr. 240.69 W warr.
cheaper if you pull off the EFI.


http://ecoparts.com/index.htm
half off sale Oct. 1

http://www.picknpull.com/part_pricing.aspx

The 360 could probably be hosed off, painted up and run fine. Scrounge up a carb intake and carb.

There is a guy at the track with a 11 second 273. His response is Never again! Lots of money in it, however it is so cool!