The drive train is pretty easy to find just the money to buy is difficult part. Go to the Charlotte swap meet in the spring, first weekend of April and there will be several to choose from. I can get you a BB 4 speed about any time you want one with any tag you want on it.
He is way off on his estimates for sure, lol. It is more like $3,200 for materials like sand paper, sealer, filler, epoxy primer, top coats, buffing compounds etc. You could not do the final sand & buff in 7 days. He must have a magic wand.
There is the one guy here in N.C. has probably a dozen R code 428 cars and one he changed to a 427 tunnel port I know he has the engines and cars but he will not sell, lol. That is why there are so few of them people hoard them until they die then the family sells cheap or takes to scrap. One of my cousins had 3 NOS 427 side oiler blocks and will not sell. Have not seen him in 20 years.
Anyone ever been to his shop? Would like to see pics.