Im going to buy parts for my engine soon. Want to get some ideas on what parts to get. This motor is going into my 78 Malibu. I want to get 400+ hp and be pretty street able This is my short block. New Scat crank, 5.7 rods and dished kb pistons.
Im probably going with patriot heads.(I know but there cheap and im only in high school) What parts for the rest of the motor do you guys recommend.

Cylinder Heads 400 block steam holes need to be drilled. Your machinist that built your short block can do this for you

400SBC head gaskets

Camshaft

Intake manifold hand port match to the heads (#1205 intake gasket)

Carburator

Ready to Run distributor
(no spark box required)

Rocker arms

Needs a 10" 3500 stall torque converter and 3.73-4.10 gears

Id say same as FBird but get the 1010 Felpro headgaskets, for alloy heads only, that have a copper core and so dont dent the alloy heads too much.

Even on a low budget id use head studs...far far superior !

Invetsigate the RPM Air Gap manifold for a non-screamer...

I avoid using head studs on simple street motors, as they can tend to leak coolant, requiring teardown. Ok, and even prefered on a race motor that gets torn down often, but for this motor you are better off with new GMPP cylinder head bolts.
Add head bolt washers under each head bolt to avoid galling the aluminum head bolt seat.

The felpro #1010 had gasket is not for a 400SBC block. It does not have steam holes. The gasket bore size is not big enough.

If you buy a quality cylinder head cast of quality heat treated aluminum as the
Summit/Brodix IK heads are, you won;t have a problem with the #1014 felpro gasket on aluminum.
Some things are not worth cutting corners on. The quality of the aluminum alloy and heat treat of a cylinder head casting is one of those areas.
Brodix's propriority aluminum is heavy duty high quality and heat treated. I believe T6 spec (hard). Any brinelling will be minimal, if at all with the 1014 gasket and proper bolt torque spec.. if you ever have a problem, say the combustion chamber is damaged somehow, or what ever, Brodix can and do weld repair their heads.
Worth the extra $100
A cylinder head made of inferior material will not be as tough and is more likely to brinell. It is also more difficult to repair, if that situation arises.

These heads come with the right springs for the Cam listed.

No direct experience with Patriot heads. Ya get what you pay for.

thanks a lot for the advice. Yeah im a little iffy on the patriot heads. I have heard some good things and some really bad. I was going to try them out because I don't got huge budget as im only in highschool and I want to get my car done before graduation in June.

Then you don't have enough money to do it twice.
Spend the few extra dollars for a quality made, trouble free head.

You guys have some really radical parts for a 400hp goal. I would just go with a 268 cam, a RPM AirGap intake, Vortec heads, long tube headders, and a quadrajet carb. It'll not only put out the power you want, but more importantly have a LOT of torque down low which is what you need in a street engine. You may want to invest in a few extra sets of tires after that- if you drive anything like I did in highschool every stoplight is an opportunity for a burn out.