Scream'n 318 ?

Phreakish said
The $250 difference versus all the other costs of building an engine seems like stepping over doughnuts to pick up dog turds, to quote @Rat Bastid
There's no reason a 318 can't perform well except that people self-impose these ridiculous (IMO) budgetary constraints. I don't get it.
There's merit to doing things on the cheap, don't get me wrong, but money well spent is never a bad thing.
Buy the right pistons then self-port your heads, or hit some swap meets instead of ebay to score an intake.

There is more than one type of build.

Lots seem consumed with best of everything balls to the wall build as the only option. That isn't the only way.

As far as money well spent, I am not sure that includes KB cast pistons for 3 or more times the price of a stock type replacement piston if someone would make one with .050 taller compression height.

BTW I'd love to know where the $250 dog turds are. I'd be very busy with my pooper scooper. :)