Getting a smallblock to rev

Iam no expert but i would think you would want to shoot for something will make the most wide powerband that you can get as you will only hit your peak hp rpm for only a couple seconds per lap. A 450HP car with a wider powerband will be faster then a car with 550 hp with a super narrow powerband exspecially on a road coarse where you wont always be at the top of each gear like you would in a drag race.

IF you can run magnum heads amd solid roller cam that would be my choice we took a 360 out of a 95 van stock super low compression 8.7:1 copied the 380HP crate engine to a "T" "mopar cam and intake" and made a dyno of 280HP at the wheels roughly 335-350HP at the crank not bad for $1000 worth the parts and that was when everything just came out and cost alot more.