Didn't say he didn't but we all thought he was crazy and it wouldn't work either. Even cut his own valve reliefs in the pistons with them still in the motor. Crazy guy but the results speak for themselves. Reliable 10sec truck.
As I said, anyone whom is building a High HP engine for race purposes, pretty much damn well knows what they are doing. And they do it damn well, even if some of the methods used are "radical" or "insane".
That said, as a retired mechanic. The idea of rebuilding an engine that has seen NO oil pressure. Is hopeless. Especially an asian market motor. The tolerances and materials used in construction of them are no where near what would make it viable to just "rebearing" it and go.
With the European and Asian market engines, they learned long ago, that Cams don't NEED bearings. They simply need an extremely well machines surface area where pressurized oil has to be forced into, and create a pillow to ride on. There for, we no longer see babbit material placed in cam journals in heads. Those, will be complete ruined in this engine. As will the tiny ports that lead to them. Same with the crank passageways. They too will have metal shrapnel in them. As will the oil pump, pick up, etc, etc, etc.
Realistically the Op is best served finding a recycled engine for a couple hundred bucks and hoping for the best. The second best route would be a recycled/overhauled engine from a reputable place (LKQ, Engine world, etc..) that would have a short warranty. Obviously the best bet, would be a factory long block, but that's not likely be cheap nor readily available.
