Big Block or stick with my Small Block

Hey thanks for helpin me out first of all. I have a 78 chevy 1/2ton  with a 350 turning some 36 x 14.5 x 15s and I found a stock 454 out of a 78 chevy one ton dually for cheap. But Ive researched the spes on them and there only producin around 250 horse and 375 torque and I not affraid to drop some cash in the motor at all just dont want to dump alot of money in it when I could get the same results with my 350 for cheaper. So let me now what you think And if I did go with the 454 how much we talking to get her up around 400 horse  or better that way I can hang with the guys in the modified stock class at our local mud races?  

I pefer smallblocks myself and when choosing a motor it is usually a preferance thing, keep in mind that you can get 450 to 500 hp out of a 4bolt main 350ci smallblock for between 1000-2000 dollar range, I personally am swapping my 425hp 355ci sb out for a 6.2L Diesel this winter to try it but I plan on building another sb as soon as the diesel is installed for a back up if I find the 6.2 to be un-desireable for what I do.
I also say this with a new 468ci 450hp bigblock GM crate sitting on a engine stand in the corner of the shop slated to go in a CJ-7 so it is a personal preferance thing.  
It's NOT what you buy, It's what you Build so build it big or leave it on the trailer

Lol I like that last part. Thanks I actually just got off the phone with the guy with the 454 and I got a steal on it, less then what a core would cost me if I bought a rebuilt one from a shop and it runs great. But Specs say stock it only has maybe 250 horse but 375 lb torque. My question now is it going to be night and day from my stock 350 or barely noticable? I called a well know mech. shop in my county and he told me with this motor I just bought and 2000 bucks he says it will have a minum of 400 horse power when it leaves the rack. And what gears would you recomend ,Randys ring and pinion recomended 4.56  I think thats what he said?  

If it ain't broke...  
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