up front i'm stating this is NOT a wanted/for sale/WIW post. i am asking only what a REASONABLE price i should expect to pay for a long/short block assembly that is usable as is, or with a slight re-fresh. i am going to shop used instead of building from scratch because of budget constraints. also, what should i shy away from in this endeavor ? i know what to look for as far as machine work, and if no specs are available on record, i'm passing. i also have a few respected places to start, but i need to get a heads up on what to expect price wise so as to not waste anyone's time as a "tire kicker". as always, T.I.A.

Call a fella up like BG. He can help ya out. Might have some good used stuff laying around. Bob was always pretty fair to me. When you ask what should you shy away from, what are you after? Street? Strip? Dual purpose? As for me stating a reasonable price, I'll keep to myself on that one. I don't wanna pi$$ folks off

Too many variables to name a price/value.

How many run/miles?
How "fresh" is it?
What parts are in it?
What work was done? ie: decking, squaring, plate honing, etc.
WHO did the machine work and assembly?

I would price what you're looking for with fresh machine work, all new parts and use 50% of that number as a starting point.

bob george was one guy i was considering contacting. i know this was a general question with a TON of variables. at the least, it will require a disassemble, inspect, and reassemble by me. also, it will be a combo street/strip, and will not have to be an assembly that is expected to last 200 passes and 25k miles. i have seen various combinations from 8500-15k depending on components and condition. i just hate to waste someones valuable time, then NOT make a purchase because i lacked the guidance necessary to make an informed decision. any opinions will help, so please, do not feel like any response will insult me.

keep a close eye on racing junk, and not just mopar motors. If you know what the motors cost new, the used price people ask will give you a good idea of what to offer.
I would look for a low deck motor, rather than an rb.

I have a spare engine that is not for sale that I can post for an example if you like just for fun.

500hp to 600hp is a pretty big spread.

A 10:1 446 with stock rods & crank, KB hyper flat tops, with bowl blended rpm/sidewinder/stealth heads, an rpm or SD intake manifold, a 509 cam and a stock non-adjustable valvetrain will get you 500hp.

Buddy of mine bought a fresh 452 from Muscle Motors that supposedly dyno'd 525 for around $6K.

As already said,a little too vague.

Race?
Street?
Fuel wanting to use?

Unless you KNOW where it came from and or how/who used it,buy accordingly.

I have never bought and used a complete engine,just parts.
90% good experiences.

500hp to 600hp will be a big price jump

Just simply too vague of a question. ( I realize you know that already).

Realistically, your better saying, "here is my budget, here is what I want it to do, and what can I get for that"? the 500-600 HP range is just too wide of a swing, and so many things can change within that window. A simple stockish 440 with wsome upgrades, and something like Sidewinder heads can be done fairly reasonable, if you want stock rods, hyper pistons etc. Again, I think you can back into easier than trying to figure out how to buy something for 600HP. I should add, i have seen a lot of what seem to be good deals out there this year, but be prepared, none of them are EVER as they appear.Just my 2 cents.

I think you answered your own question.

I would go down this path as well to save a few bucks (hopefully) , good luck with your search.

One just listed in the FS section.

all replies have been insightful to me, and greatly appreciated. my one friend keeps telling me i am too analytical, as i study and think about things too much, while i should just "git 'r dun !" my charger needs a new [different] engine because of oil leaks and other issues from sitting over 10 years. the past several months have ingrained the saying an acquaintance uses all the time : "our shopping days left are fast running out !" in other words, i need to start getting some fun in while it is still possible. being fully able to collect [the right] parts, and assemble them to my standards to obtain my wanted results, time is not on my side to do so. i [somewhat] know my budget for this, but i can't actively start shopping until the first of the year, hence the "generic/vague" question asked to prepare me time to gather as much info as possible before the quest starts in earnest. please forgive my seemingly naive, ignorant question, as i am looking for just general guidance at this time. plus persons to help guide me [take me under their wing] in this quest if possible.