Reply to "Building an economical 351C"

I think that if you use your core and replace all the wear parts like the cam, lifters, push rods and use quality forged pistons you are in the $5000 to $8000 range.
Mine is a $13,000-14,000 (if I paid myself the labor) enginge but I started from scratch sourcing everything, block, crank, rods, using things like roller rocker arms, Motorsport aluminum A3 heads, etc.
There are a few racers here that will tell you that you generally get what you pay for. I could have spent a bunch more in dyno developement work. I would expect a good strong competative Cleveland to cost somewhere around $20,000 fully dialed in.
I didn't use CJ level components. I started with the Boss level using genuine Ford replacement parts. Pistons were TRW at $50 each, etc. I upgraded using things like a chrome molly oil pump drive shaft, CL77 race bearings, double molly rings, Aviad pan and on and on.
I am fortunate in that I can and do build the engine myself, but that really started way back because I simply don't trust anyone else with my life.
When you go to Paratrooper School in the US Army, they teach you to fold your own 'chute' and tell you to always do your own if you want to stay alive.
I've always continued that philosophy which is really a good thing because it has kept me growing in new areas (and alive).
I've got pictures of me "dropping" the engine in for the first time but it wouldn't go in as I expected. The pictures are of the wrong way in.
It was kind of the first indication that this car might not really have been designed with an engine this long in mind. Go figure?
Installation and hook up in a Pantera is no little thing to scoff at either.
You might want to check out Hall Pantera or other vendors engines. They offer them in package levels and because of thier experience should offer some area of comfort to you.