400 Non Stroker Build

I had a '70 Challenger R/T factory 383 car with a non-matching '68 383 in it with Stage 4 DC heads and TRW domed pistons. It was tired and leaking everywhere, so I yanked the motor and parted it out for other builds. I needed a big block for it, and I had a good running '77 Newport 400 that I saved from the crusher that I used for a donor. Took the 400 out and had it decked to 9.98" and ball-honed it myself. Had the crank polished and cleaned the pistons/rods myself, the motor was well maintained and mint inside really. The heads I had milled .060" on the decks and .072" on the intake face, so the intake would line back up. The machine shop did a valve job and I put a Crane retainer/spring kit in, and used .018" steel head gaskets. For a camshaft I used a 275DEH Comp Cams DUAL ENERGY cam, perfect for HP exhaust manifolds and 2.5" exhaust with H-pipe. The Chally came with a DP4B intake, so I used that with a 750 Carter Comp Series AFB (think Edelbrock). With a 2500rpm factory hi-stall converter and 3.23 gears, the thing was a BEAST, at basically all speeds, from dead starts to top end. People thought it was a 440 or 451 stroker, I mean it ran extra good. That camshaft (219/235*@.050". .462/.482" lift 110LSA) is still my go-to cam for a lopey daily driver B engine. I have a bigger go-to for 440s but I think I may try the 275DEH in a RB one day, it runs so good! You could duplicate this proven build really affordably, of you can reuse the factory pistons, but if you buy the KB's, you can do less milling and spend on the pistons themselves and the bore job. Either way, you'll have the cylinder pressure that was always the culprit with making a 400 run as well as a similar 383, when it can run as well or better with the extra bore/CID.