I think I prefer to keep it a 427, if I was going to go a stroker, I will do it with a different block at a later date. I'm actually trying to convince the wife to let me buy a 68 camaro and put a big ci motor in that. No luck with that yet......
And yes I am well aware of the risk of decking the numbers off the block, I plan on being at the machine shop to make things very clear. They tell me they rely on the back cut to finish the machining but I'm sure they can just stop short of the pad and still do a good job? Has anyone else managed to get a block machined without touching the pad? Although matching numbers here don't get the respect that they do in the US, I would still be ruined if they took them off. It would just be any old block then!
Jim, thanks for the comments, I will get suds for the caps, and the machine work should be spot on as the engine builder I'm using builds V8's for our local supercar series here (the series rules are 5L, 10:1 comp, 7500rpm limit and they manage to get 650hp from them on E85!) the guy who does his heads should also know how to work magic on the iron 215's. As for pistons, there are suppliers here who machine forged custom slugs, so I might look into them and let you know how I go.
A performer intake is not going to fit, I have the torker on the car with the holley and a drop base filter, there is 5mm clearance to the hood and the performer is a little over 1" taller, so I would have to lower the motor to get it in there. That would put my headers and sump 2" off the ground.....and they probably wouldn't last at that height!
As for matching a better drive ratio to the car, I think I will just see how it goes. As mentioned it's only got 235 rubber so maybe not a bad thing that it's a bit tall off the line.
As for the Cam - what benifits would I get with the solid over the hydraulic roller? (apart from price!) From what I understand comparing the 280S to the 290HR the motor will have a more difficult street manners with the solid due to the larger overlap and duration but will achieve similar results? Am I reading this wrong?

 

Your going to need a good cylinder head to get 500 hp. oval ports are a good way to go, try to find a set of 781 oval ports and get them worked over. My 427 build was like this.

2 bolt main block, bore .060 over so 440 CI.
L23-68 F pistons 11.25-1 compression with 120 cc heads.
Edelbrock oval port rpm performer aluminum heads.
Cam was a custom grind hydraulic roller. .585 lift with .245/.255 dur @.050 on a 112 LSA
Holley Strip dominator intake With 825 mighty demon carb.

Motor made 550 hp and 513 tq.

 

Thanks Grumpy, here's an update on my build:
The block has been bored 30 thou and squared up. The deck is going to get machined on a turret mill so the numbers will remain untouched. The crank was checked and polished. We have installed a set of callies H-beam rods and some Ross forged 'blank' pistons that have been machined to give the preferred height and dimensions. The combustion chambers have also been modified for better combustion and flow and the pistons have been matched to this. The compression ratio will sit at 11.1 with 40thou squish. The rotating assembly (clutch, flywheel, internals and pully) have been balanced.
So now we are at the point of assembling. I have decided to save some money and leave the valves and ports with only minor work, recut valve seats and some blending, but not any major port work. I figure I'm only giving up some power without sacarificing build quality. I can get the work done later if I decide I want to.
Hopefully not too long and I can get it back in the car. I had better hurry up with rebuilding the gearbox!

 

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