Lowest cost 400 stroker

Why build a 470- 500 CI engine and choke it with factory iron ?
Because I'm already building a dart with a hot small block and I can't justify the expenditure right now.

Aftermarket heads will cost $1k in addition compared to freshened up 452s. I know I'm leaving power on the table though, probably even down low. It's just a money thing.

We all justify the added spend the rationale being "well X aftermarket part would only cost $Y more so might as well"

That's how a $4k motor turns into an $8k motor.