After a survey of the parts on hand, here is one possible combination:

383 block .040 over Hughes girdle factory caps (all machined).
Eagle 3.9 inch crank 383 mains 2.2 Rod journals.
K1 6.7 inch H beams (from DRAM - RIP).
Diamond 4.29 inch pistons. 1.32 CD 4cc valve reliefs.
Rotating assembly balanced.
Indy 440-1 milled 62 cc chambers - flow approx 340cfm: These are circa Y2K vintage.
ICH 1.6 ratio blue Dove rockers - almost new.
400-2 Indy intake (supposedly ported by Indy)
Summit balancer.
Holley 850 (8082 with adapter can be added later).
Milodon single line static, Melling HV pump
Cam (to be purchased) – Howards 722422-08: Lift: .66 / .68 (w/1.6), Duration @ .050: 264/272 Centerline: 104?
Lifters Howards EDM
Valve Springs (to be purcahsed)? K-motion K850?

Compression around 12.7 to one.

Goals: put some parts into service. Bring car (3300 lbs, ladder bar and 727) in garage since 2004 back to life. Make a few passes at the strip and drive 20 miles on the street at least one time.

Thoughts on the cam and valve springs? Other?

imo 440-1 is too big a head for a 451 especially a 383 based bore

i agree with Shadow. i have a 455 with -1 heads but i rev to 8k with a 6k converter. i think the big ports will make your motor suffer down low.

Probably run a lot better with Trick Flow heads on it but that would mean that you would have to sell the heads and rockers and buy some Trick Flow heads. Good news is that Trick Flow heads aren't very expensive so you might be able to swing the deal and not be out too much cash.

If you do put it together with the -1 heads it will run okay, just probably be a little soft on the bottom end. I remember back with the -1 heads first came out there were a lot of guys at the track with 440 engines who went pretty slow with those big heads. Sometimes too much is too much.

I'm not a big fan of the fast rate cams and 1.6 rockers.

The motor will likely be fairly high rpm oriented, which will require plenty of spring to maintain control of the valvetrain.

Probably want 54-5600 stall and a 7000-ish shift point.

Thanks all for the responses. I recognize the combination is not ideal, and the short block was originally collected for a different set of heads. The -1 set has history for me so selling is probably not an option.

Fast - if I was to have you spec a cam for the combo (such as it is), about how long does it take to get usually?

I'd run a bigger cam! if you can put a K-1000 or K-950 then you can get up to .700 lift pretty easy. I wish the bore was bigger but it would not stop me from trying it with parts I had laying around. Lighter pistons can turn more RPM. That crank is not super huge so I'd shift it at 7500 if that's what it likes. I think it will still shift under 7000 but I am not positive. I'd go .270 or bigger at .050 and a big stall. 5500 or so.