| John's Cost |
| MFG | PN | Description | Price |
| ARP | 135-9801 | Accessory bolt kit | 80 |
| | 135-2501 | Balancer bolt | 21 |
| | 135-3601 | Head bolts | 56 |
| Aerohead Racing | new GM 14097088 | Cast-iron heads | 895 |
| | | Install ARP 71/416-inch studs | |
| | | & Manley guideplates | 100 |
| | | Valvespring upgrade | 120 |
| Edelbrock | 2902 | Victor Jr. 454-R | 230 |
| Fel-Pro | 1017-1 | Head gaskets | 80 |
| | 1275 | Intake gaskets | 15 |
| | 1606 | Valve cover gaskets | 16 |
| Isky Racing Cams | 202-H | Lifters | 107 |
| | 203-96 | Pushrods | 120 |
| JMS Racing Engines | | 496/505 short-block | 3,295 |
JMS Racing EnginesIncluded ARP main-bearing cap studs; Federal-Mogul bottom gaskets, cam bearings, rod bearings, and timing set; Isky solid flat-tappet camshaft; RPM International nodular iron crankshaft w/ 4.250-inch stroke and forged H-beam rods, 6.385 inches; KB Performance 0.100-over Premium Forged pistons and rings.
| | | Labor to finish engine assembly | 600 |
| | | Flexplate | 35 |
| Summit | SUM-164800 | Adjustable Timing Pointer | 25 |
| | SUM-G6930B | Aluminum roller rocker arms, 1.7:1 | 210 |
| | SUM-G3312 | Chrome valve covers | 30 |
| | SUM-162454 | OEM Harmonic Balancer | 84 |
| | SES-3-90-08-910 | Summit Moroso Oil Pan Kit | 210 |
| | SUM-G3201 | Chrome timing cover | 11 |
| | SUM-G3405 | Valve cover breathers (2) | 20 |
| | | Total | $6,360 |
We sourced RPM International for a set of its 6.385-inch forged H-beam rods. An H-beam rod actually requires a little less block clearancing than an I-beam piece. They're lightweight, and our set all scaled-in within a gram of each other out of the box. Nice. | 
Jeff Johnson then laid our newly balanced RPM cast crank in place and installed ARP main studs, which JMS considers a must when making any kind of power with a two-bolt block. The studs go in finger-tight only, and without moly-lube in the block. | 
Speaking of nice...we chose a set of KB's new Premium Forged pistons in the appropriate 0.100-over size, with a matching set of rings. Mike Johnson was surprised by how light our slugs were (731 grams with pin and spacer); he was delighted that our set of eight all weighed within 0.5 gram, as delivered. Really nice. |