"Budget" and SD-455 just don't go together, unfortunately. I recently put one together and I can attest to the pain of having to buy some specific SD-455 parts. Couple simple examples would be the thousands and thousands for a real SD-455 Q-jet, $600.00 for a correct SD-455 PCV system, the list is endless. Now, achieving around 400 HP from a regular 455 is pretty easy. My real SD-455 made 407 HP at the flywheel which a regular 455 can duplicate with a flat tappet cam, iron intake, Q-jet and D port heads. If you want the round port look, of course aluminum heads are an option. Your 5K budget is pretty restrictive but there are used Edelbrock, and Speedmaster heads out there. The dead giveaway on those heads is the angled spark plugs vs straight on 455-HO and SD-455 heads. If you really, really wanted the looks, Edelbrock or Speedmaster heads could be welded up and re-tapped for straight plugs. Probably give up 5-8 HP with the conversion and lighten your wallet by $1000.00 or so. But it can be done.
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