allen youre sayin you can biuld a 383 short block for less than 3k, pm me an actual price ...
I'll check my bills, but less than $2000 for the LS1 forged kit, it came with Diamond pistons stock bore flat top, eagle crank, eagle rods.
About $1,000 for machine work, balance and assembly.
You have a shortblock that can probably take about 20psi.