Budget 408 Build

First off, my condolences on the loss of your son. If you would like to share your sons' name, please do.
On your build,I don't see any cam specs? Other details? I am really interested in the whole build. Sounds like a great base, good ring seal and fresh heads for starters. Lots of cubes for torque, one of my favorite things! How are the low speed manners? Type of trans? Looking to learn all I can from your work, here.
I started a cheap 5.9 magnum project, and if you look for my posts you will see how it got de railed into a full on build, and the budget got out of hand. I would some day like to try again on a Magnum 5.9, with the following restrictions for economy. Standard rockers and pushrods, stock crank, +.030 overbore cast replacement pistons, ( rehone only should I find a real good motor for a base!) EQ iron head castings with LA intake bolt pattern, an 800 cfm TQ carb on a stock intake from a 340 or similar, reground stock cam. Depending on the low rpm manners, or lack of, due to cam duration, my guess is 375 to 450 hp is a realistic end result with these restrictions. If a guy has luck scrounging a decent cast iron intake and carb plus tuning parts, I think it would come out pretty cheap, compared to most builds.