I guess "cheapest route" would be a way of saying it. I'm thinking "no unneccessary cost". I'm willing to spend, but I don't need to buy a Ram 3500 Diesel dually to pull a 2-place snowmobile trailer, if that makes sense. That is why I was looking at lower end aluminum heads. Weight saving plus if I can run them with just a home inspection, then great. If I can buy new valves, even have a 3-angle valve job, a little home porting/casting clean up and springs for the 452's and easily get there, then maybe that's my best route. By the way, sounds like a stout 383 with unported heads!!