318 Senior Project Build

I agree that a good running 5.9 swap is the best bang for the dollar, the 300hp create engine is a stock 5.9 with a 4 bbl intake and said to Dyno 320hp with headers. Throw in even a mild cam and you'll be a streetable 1 hp per cubic inch.

With the 318 build I wouldn't go much more than 9:1 CR and 268 cam. With magnum or 360 heads should get mid 300 hp. Going more cam and CR is gonna give you more top end power but at a cost of bottom end and needed deep gears and stall to take advantage of it.