SBE 318 basic rebuild +CAM , INTAKE, HEADS, expectations?

I loved 318's when they were 25 bucks and all I had were slant sixes.
Now days I can't help but see them as a waste of cash.
That's the only thing why I look into it...
The "what do I have" & Budget.

As mentioned I have a 440 here as well but my Calc. Says it's 2.5k more to make it work.

The Duster is a beater. I'm not trying to make it a show car..
I do it the "roadkill" way and I try to avoid the " other costs" as transmissions and rear ends, etc..
Which the 440 would probably need... all I read is that the torque will eat the 8-1/4 no matter what.