Just have to chime in here with some V8 mullet news...
The '86 T.A. I purchased cost $2,500
CAI cost $50 in parts
Cam/gaskets/lifters cost $80
3.73 Gears cost less than $200 installed
Programmer, adapter, and spare Eproms $180
These mods will have me in the 13's on a 305 TPI, let alone what a 350 car can do. Don't mis out on the Vortech supercharger kits for less than $1800, or a 400 HP small block built for a grand...