Bryan, I was looking for a stock 460 to do a mild build up on and fornd a Lincoln really cheap. When I picked it up I found the guy had a 3 foor long print out from a Firestone dealer who did all his work..even changed headlights (some people cant even figure out how do use a screwdriver). Anyhow the engine was a reman, with 19k and about 6
oil changes. Hmmmm got me thinkin' the money I save not rebuilding it I can buy the SVO CJ heads (this was in '96).
Of course I got the crate motor C460 cam(.588/.614), roller t-chain and the Performer RPM intake. Whatever cheapo cast pistions and what ever quick slap together crank and recon'd rods the remanufacturers threw in were untouched by me. I had the intake port matched and some 'clean up' work done on the heads. In a 4300 lb (with driver) Galaxie I was clicking off 11.6-7s at 116+. Most of the time I shifted around 63-6500. My best times came when I took 1st to 6800 with second around 6500, but on more then a few occasions it saw 7 grand. <man, did that sound mean!> About the worse thing that happened was it would throw the fan belt, every time like clock work when it hit 7200.
Since your building this from the start for that kind of use I don't think a well prepped short block by a reputable shop would have any problem hitting 6500 on 'occasion'. I sold that engine with 10k miles on it and my buddy had no problem with it another several thousand untill he decided to pull it to go more radical.
For the weight, he took it to his shop, on a load beam (I believe he called it) scale, complete minus carb it weighed 518 pounds, thats not even 50 lbs more then an all iron 289/302.
I think you can still get the AR aluminum block through Ford Racing.