engine build for reliability
Does your daughter want to drive around in a 50yr old car?
Mine does!
My opinion. Keep it close to stock and keep it simple with as many OEM parts as you can find.
Electronic ignition - mostly all cheap Chinese junk. I have Pertronix in my ‘68 but the points worked fine for the first 10k miles.
EFI - it takes thousands of hours on a dyno to get fuel maps that work well over all operating conditions. Oh and the electronics and fuel pumps, see “Electronic Ignition”. I will be taking the EFI off my Coronet someday and the daughters Duster is getting a Demon carb off the bat
Cooling - I opted for GlenRay radiator and aluminum heads for her 318. My 318 is a bit dicey with AC and 110 desert temps the aluminum heads should help a lot and end spark Knock with reasonable advance.
Water Pump - I finally bought a NOS water pump for my 68 318. Problem solved on leaking seals and dropped temperature 3 degrees.
- Brakes got a 73 donor with disks for her 72.