I agree with pretty much all Gearbanger 101 said with one exception. If you're going to build a stroker you're better off starting with a 351w. You get 49 c.i. right off the bat (which is bigger than the stroker 302 kits I've seen) without any special parts and if you STILL want to stroke it, you can stroke way bigger than you can starting with a 302. IMO, don't waste your money stroking a 302. Rebuild it or replace it with good parts and put your GO foot on the back of the block!
Those heads, intake, carb and exhaust either won't either physically fit, or support the needs of a stock 351W....never mind a big cube stroker. Lets also consider, that Weiand 174 will be on the ragged edge of efficiency trying to keep up with the air demands of a stock 351W and his current top end....never mind a stroked and poked 393/408W with the right supporting components.
So while I agree with you that there is in fact "no replacement for displacement" when making power is concerned, he would have to change his entire set up to meed the requirements of feeding such a beast.....and that's going to be $10,000-$12,000 minimum investment, just to get a 408W together that'll feed that need. I don't imagine he's going to be slipping that past the wife anytime soon.
I had read some articles that said the 351w was a little stronger than the 302, which I was leaning toward as the 302 didn't survive long with 5 or 6 psi boost.
My guess is that the demise of your engine was either due to a not overly healthy rotating assembly to start with, or it was improperly tuned (not enough fuel and/or too much timing).
FWIW, my stock block H/C/I 331 see's 14psi from my
Vortech S-Trim. If I'm not making 500rwhp when I get my fuel issues sorted out, it'll be damn close. For comparison sake, that's far more power than that top end and Weiand 174 will ever come close to supporting.....no matter what block it's bolted to. Just to give you an idea what a 302 block is capable of making and handling.
What I'm saying is, you've got 302 parts with those heads, intake, exhaust, carb and that blower....and to see power levels capable of exceeding the limits of a stock, or a stroked 302 with your current set up, you're going to have to completely abandon it and start from scratch with that 351W. As the matter of fact, with enough cubes, and the right top end and supporting components, I bet you'd make more power with a N/A 408W, than you would with that Weiand on there. It's more of a "Hot rod" type blower. It was never designed to make or support huge power levels. It's size appropriate to make a smaller engines, seem bigger, but also size deficient that it will make a bigger engine, feel smaller.....if that makes sense to you?
Bottom line. If you want to get it back on the road, for the least amount of money. Find yourself another HO long block, transfer your parts over and spend some money on a proper tune up. If you want some additional jam while you've got it down, for the least amount of money, find another 302 roller (doesn't matter out of what, because you're only using the block) spring for a stroker rotating assembly, send the block out for machine work and put it together in your garage. Several advantages to sticking to your 302 base.
1....all of our current components still physically fit.
2....your current components while not ideal, are still acceptable parts to feed a small stroker and will provide an excellent power curve for street use.
3....you'll pick up a noticable horsepower and torque increase with the added cubes that will compliment your top end.
4....the stroker rotating assembly will consist of much tougher components than the stock rotating assembly
5....you're essentially starting with a clean slate, new short block when all is said and done.