Engine Building 101
I have been building engines for my street cars and later for all my race cars. It's a job best done while by yourself in your own little world. Any distraction and it could be and usually is cause to a mistake. The 383 Stroker of late has become my specialty.
One thing I have found with them is every build will probably be different from the last. I have used different four bolt main 350 chevy blocks and have had some kind of clearancing issues with every one. Never always the same issues either. One the rods hit the block somewhere. Another the rods hit the cam. Another the crank rubbed the inside edge of the block where the oil pan mounts. Etc.
That's because poured castings are not a perfect science. Also machinists aren't perfect either. That is why CLEARANCING is the most, if not most important part of any build. So many engine builders out there that do not do this enough or at all. Plastigauge is cheap and does not take that much more time when you factor in the life expectancy the engine should have. If anything it makes you attack the torquing process twice too.
I use mostly Eagle Brand bottom ends and shy away from domed pistons. There is alot to say for a low compression engine especially the 383 Stroker. Drag racing engines require more refreshing due to their use and many run nitrous. I build for circle track cars so low compression does not hurt this engine at all. It still provides up in around 450# of torque while still maitaining peak horsepower damn near through the entire range of the cam. And speaking of cams research on this engine will sometimes speak of low base circle cams. They do work better for clearancing issues with the rods but just a change in bolts on the rods will allow clearancing for the large base circle cam.
This engine is phenominal for a circle track car. Especially the guy with the smallest pockets because although I won't use low quality parts there are good parts available for very reasonable prices and the result is one monster of a motor even on pump gas.
So I apologize for the long post in getting to my point, but here it is. I don't know what all parts you had installed in your engine that it would cost $6700 and you also say your an engine builder yourself but, methinks you been hosed! :roll: