Ratty valiant shell + 440 ?

If you want to do it cheap go with the 440, you can build 450 hp 440 with 90 percent stock parts, you can build a 650 hp 440 for the same money as a 408. Small block guys will tell you small block without having ever built a big block. If that Valiant has manual brakes and steering a 440 is a breeze.