I'm going to assume you were looking 331/347 and not a 306.
Depending on if you are willing to put the whole engine together or if you have a shop build the shortblock, longblock, etc. will change the prices.
Is that $8k in just parts and with you doing the labor? That must be a heck of a list...
The thing I try and remember as I slowly plan ahead for a solid engine platform is that, for the most part, this cost is only going to come once. I like the people here for thinking with their heads and not try to make ridiculous HP/TQ for as cheap as possible.
Beyond the cost all you have to do is maintenance and put gas in to compensate for your specific foot to floor ratio
I've been looking at DSS lately. A 331 short block can be $1,700 to $3k, and if you want to make serious power down the road and add a Dart block... well, add $2k. You have your choice of a custom cam, all sorts of great heads and intakes, gaskets, maybe new accessories while everything is apart, any powder coating, ignition, fuel, valve covers... and the list goes on and on.
I look at the higher price tags (most of the time) as preventative maintenance, cool factor, and a solid investment in having one hell of a fun machine.
Now no, I don't have $8k, nor do I have the means of achieving that much to dump into my car before this summer is long since past, but one day you'll hopefully see me posting pictures of a sweet new stroker in my engine bay and a heck of a dyno sheet.
Now that I've strayed far enough from the point of the thread... I think $8k is a pretty good middle ground number and if you have it to spare, run with it
