[Turk]

An Aluminum block based engine and a 427 SO (iron) engine cost the same. Exactly the same, other than the difference of cost of the block.

You are not going to save or spend more or less for everything that goes in and outside the engine.

Only difference is the cost of the block. You should be able to buy an aluminuim block for $6,000. and an iron block for $5,000 (NOS). So the aluminum block engine will cost $1000.00 more. That is all.

If someone gave you an SO block as a gif, then the aluminum block engine will cost $6000.00 more.

If you end up buying a date coded SO block for $9000.00 you will spend $3000.00 more for the completed engine than you would have spent if you had gone aluminum.

I can't for the life of me understand what other components anyone thinks they will save money on going this or that way.
What machining expenses are spared by choosing one over the other?

Let's face it. They all cost a bunch. For the type of driving I do, I wanted the additional weight in the front end of my car to offset the weight of 42 gallons of fuel in the rear.

It does get a little light in the front end at high speeds. You start loosing steering.

TURK
Bragging rights were secondary. I think the people with aluminum blocks have some sort of bragging rights too. More modern, and lighter and easier to pick up the phone and order another for replacement, if they had to.
I have to go camp on eBay, if I needed a replacement!