Daily driver small block build

if you're talking straight up easy and cheap-- 5.2 or 5.9 magnum, snap on a 4bbl intake send the cam to oregon and have it reground, thin headgaskets to bring the compression up and roll.

if you're even thinking of going roller cam on an LA, start with a roller block. or, again a magnum.

300hp out of 318 is cake all day. bump the compression a bit if needed, don't over cam it, some decent heads (302's or 360 2bbl) and top it with dual plane and you're set.

you already have the intake and carb, so you're set there.

machine work eats up budget, oddball set ups (magnum heads on an LA) eat budget, fancy pistons and cams eat up budget. keep it simple and keep it reliable, you'll also keep it cheap.