You're not going to make 500 reliable HP on a stock bottom end and the only real argument against turbos (turbo lag lol) is fabrication cost/difficulty. They will make boost sooner than a centrifugal and make more power and torque than a roots.
Hence why I'm looking at a forged big bore stroker kit. And (again) I just am not a fan of boosted cars. It just seems like cheating to me. Tomato, tomahto.
Lastly how much power is your friend making? Unless hes put serious money into that 347 with a new block, or was smart/lucky enough to get a Mexican block which he most likely was not; he's probably not making 450+WHP (or wont for long when that block lets go.) My point is with this car trying to use power to get your car quick is more expensive than using chassis and drive train mods. You can make this car drop almost 2 seconds with drivetrain and very simple engine mods.
His expectation is 425 hp with the Probe 347 stroker kit, heads, cam, etc. He is aware of the inherent weaknesses in the 302 block. I can't blame him for not wanting to drop 2 grand on a Dart block.
In case it isn't obvious, the reason you don't want to do it with power if you don't have to is because you'd need a built motor and built transmission just to handle the power. With mostly drivetrain and a few engine mods you don't need to shell out all the money for that stuff.
Nobody said I was planning on using the stock drivetrain.
Dude, I'm not sixteen and this isn't my first car.
T-man, what car was this? I'd be interested in seeing that.