Ya know, I am in your same boat with the choosing on the parts on a budget. I have a stock 70 302 in a 70.5 Falcon. This is definately a budget power upgrade for me. If it isn't on Craigslist, I'm not buying it. That will limit the headaches of choosing parts real quick as long as the parts I do buy match. I am just adding a small cam, headers, manifold, and four barrel. So far, I have purchased a new Wieand Action Plus manifold, a new holley 600, new carb spacer, and new intake gaskets for $225.00, all off the same guy, as a package. My quest continues for the cam and headers. Are there better parts out there? You bet. But I'm sticking to the plan of $400, for everything. Anything I bolt on will be an upgrade. If I make 300 horsies, I will be lucky. But that will be 85 more horsies than I have now. Then maybe a Craigslist nitous kit (somebody smack me as I have to stick to the plan!)