advice: 500hp SB build

And you're stuck on 500hp? The reason I'm asking, and being kind of a jerk about it is I need to know what the honest starting point is. In technical terms, you put the cart ahead of the horse. To make big power with moderate cost means buidling smart. The base is the machining. With that in mind... A 4" stroker engine should be sonic tested before a dollar is spent on machining anything. High horsepower build needs main studs. Even factory strokes. But, you have already line honed... and when studs are installed, the thing needs to be honed again because the studs will distort the main bores. Then theres the bores... You dont finish hone the bores until you have the pistons in your hands. Because the pistons need a certain spec for wall clearance. These issues sound trivial. However when things are not done just right, power is sacrificed. With that said, and the $5K budget, I dont think you have enough to make a 500hp 4" stroker. Stock rods are not enough for that level with a 4" crank. You'll need heads that flow 250cfm at least, 280 would be better. The M1 single plane intak with an open 1" spacer, carb of at least 870cfm wet flow rated, headers at least 1 3/4 primaries, a solid flat tappet cam, and adjustable valve train. In very general terms, the costs break down like this: Lower end machining, parts including stroker kit, $4000. Heads and valve train $3K, intake, carb, ignition, headers $1500. End total is about 8500 when it's all totalled. Some new parts you have which will save a small amount. It ends up being around $16-17/hp for a small block at 500hp.