Weighing my options
The best part is the OP states...
I'm just trying to all this on a budget
Ain't nothing budget about removing a SB and installing a BB when you get everything together! At least with the 360, it's a straight swap for the most part with any other SB in your car now. No new headers, transmission, driveshaft, etc. All that stuff adds up fast.
Put KB107's in the 360 with stock everything else and it would run pretty good. Want to stroke it, then do the 360 and it will stump pull if you want. A 383 with equal compression and parts won't be running away from a 360, I've killed lots of 383's and 440's over the years with SB cars. So what how they were built in the 60-70's and the power ratings.
Why do people dog 72-73 340's... because they are just like a 71-73 360 with a 4 barrel carb... :)
Like one of my friends here says often... "just another big block embarrassment..."