Thanks Glenn, I am not stuck at a 350 as there are many 454's around my area for between 500 and 1000 dollars.
I do happen to have a 350 that came with the car however, and an edelbrock 7101 performer rpm that was donated to me. the 350 I have is casting number 3970014. as far as i can tell (looking on mortec) it is a 68 - 79, im preparing to be underwhelmed as my friend told me it has egr which puts it probably after 73 so most likely its one of those low compression 70s clunkers putting out perhaps 170hp