Shallow pockets? I know the feeling! Delt with that for the most part of my life. But/sell/trade! Will work for cash but would rather parts!
Since money is tight, I suggest a 5.9 Magnum. get it with the flywheel/flexplate as to use with a regular zero balnced converter. Sell off what is not needed to recoup. Roll it over into the above parts I mentioned.
Edelbrock RPM intake, carb, cam, headers, distributor.
Inexpensive Summit headers.
1973 DODGE DART Summit Racing® Headers
You can finish the exhaust up with inexpensive mufflers, straight pipe & hangers from the speed house's.
Muffler example;
Summit Racing® 2-Chamber Performance Mufflers SUM-638222
Straight pipe example;
Summit Racing® Exhaust Tubing SUM-640025-1
Pipe hanger example;
Summit Racing® Universal Exhaust Hangers
Or a kit from stem to stern;
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-680144/overview/year/1973/make/dodge/model/dart
The distributor can be a JY unit. (You can go to Pace Performance for a ready to run HP distributor. JUST like the MSD.
The OE distributor. It will take some work to recurve. You can try it as is! A carb can be found here on site inexpensively.
If you keep the cam small,
[email protected] & under, you can keep the stock converter. Just remember the Magnum has a 1.6 rocker and not a 1.5 rocker ratio!
Go with the max tire & gear for your needs. (I suggest a max of 4.10's for a light to light bandit and not the hwy.)
Just examples mind you.