Talk to LyCon in Visalia, CA, about a "new" overhaul engine. They use new limits but used case, crank, and cam, and new most everything else, particularly cylinders. Get their flow balance and polish option, it's cheap horsepower, on new Lycoming jugs. It's their forte. They'll also build any standard kit engine you want.
In April I received a quote of about $22K for the new overhaul including porting. ECi kits - the cheapest - were around $26K, nothing fancy, no options. That's still about what you're going to pay at a minimum for a plain new kit from from ECi, maybe Superior, Lyc will be more, screwed together by any of the reputable builders.
John Siebold