[davepl]

I can't throw a rock without hitting a ZZ502 in my shop. But if I was doing it for one of our trucks, and wasn't going to race it, I'd go with the HT502 or whatever GM now calls the "truck" version. Milder cam and cheaper, easier to live with.

The 572s are tempting, but really expensive, and too much cam and carb for a grocery getter. If they sold it with street heads and cam, it'd be cool.

I've probably got $5K into my original 396, which surprised me... that's close to new engine pricing. But then it cost $3K to get the rear end "back to new", so nothing's free.

Here's a pic of a crate ZZ502 short block I run in my '69 Camaro, though everything from the deck upwards is custom or aftermarket (but the ZZ502 bottom end seems indestructible). Next to it is the ZZ502 in my B-body, so as you can see it's all in how you dress them!