10's on $5,000 ?

My point was, you buy a diplomat for say 7-800....... then you’ll have a bunch of other money in it getting the car suitable for installing a big block in it.
It’ll likely need a different rear, modified trans tunnel and cross member for a 727, drive shaft made, more than likely have to modify the headers to fit, plus whatever else is required to make the car road worthy.

Arbitrarily saying it would be $1000 out of the $5000 total budget, and substituting in a running driving Duster instead, that already has an 8-3/4 and a trans tunnel/cross member that accepts a 727 isn’t realistic IMO....... if you’re really trying to show it can be done for $5k.

What would a project Dart/Demon/Duster go for in your area?