Hypothetical 475-500hp 360 build cost.....???

really, to have a sustainable 500hp that doesnt need to run at 7k rpms constantly, where you are breakin stuff... you need the stroker kit.

a stock stroke 360 will have to run high rpms to match a 408. i.e. the ratio for the same amount of cfm is 13% higher. so a 408 running 6500 rpms is equivalent to a 360 running 7366 rpms. in order to sustain that kind of work, you would have to build the crap out of the bottom end, girldle, windage tray, external oiling system, all forged pieces, perfectly blueprinted and you are still going to break stuff.

so from a cost standpoint the stroker kit is more cost effective for 500hp. i would stay far away from the cast version of the eagle cranks, and for the forged version it needs to be checked thoroughly since some of the journals are a bit out of spec when they are new in the box.

it's the same if you use turbo or nitrous... although it seems like a short cut you should really have a bottom end that can support the HP limit, or it's lifespan will be limited.

so for long term costs, a stroker kit would be best for 500hp
for stock stroke 360, 400hp is a easier number to hit and would have a better lifespan.

for a race gas engine it's a bit different. by having 12:1 your stock stroke 360 would put out a lot more power so you could probably hit 500. but then, again, the costs are higher long term.