Ahhh, I hadn't really thought about it like that, but now it makes a lot of sense. So I'm pretty much learning as I go and doing all the work myself (within reason). It's mostly stock. Still has a 305. I've removed the AIR smog stuff and the AC, removed the cat, put in a new gas tank, plugs and wires, cleaned the carb, new floor pan... I actually haven't checked which trans I have yet. The frame is in really good shape. For me it's mostly a daily driver, BUT I want it to be a long-goal car.
EVENTUALLY I'd like to get at least a 350 in it and have it be more of a muscle car rather than just stock. I'd like to be able to take it to a drag strip if I want without being laughed at, but nothing crazy. I'd like the option to do burnouts. My plan was to upgrade components as I am able that will also fit my long term goals for it to be a car with some more muscle car flavor. I think putting in a new engine probably isn't in my price range right now, and I could just run it til it dies, but I figure if I upgrade everything else, it could be with parts that could handle a 350 with at least 300 HP.
300hp is very mild and attainable. IF you're happy with that, and sure you're going to stick with a traditional sbc and not an ls motor, then here's what I'd probably do.
1) I'd do headers and an exhaust. The same ones from a 305 will fit a 350, and, it's cheap while probably tied for the biggest performance upgrade you can notice until you swap the motor. Go true duals all the way back, and, no need to spend on a trans crossmember for now. A heat and beat will get you by while looking for a used gforce unit that matches your eventual long term transmission preference to be affordable.
2) I'd look for a cheap monte ss posi rear end to swap in. Whole thing, not just gears should run you $250 to $350, gives you 3.73 gearing. At 300hp you shouldn't hurt a 7.5 as long as you aren't done anything crazy, and, you can install c clip eliminators and service everything before the install. At the same time add the missing braces and bushings from the other car lineups like gp, cutlass, etc, and maybe a cheap fbody swaybars.
Thats probably $600-750 worth of work depending on your exhaust choices and deals you get.
After that I'd save up for a complete brake system overhaul. It's 35 years old and stopping better is nice.
B body vacuum booster, bigger master cylinder, then do reading and thinking on what you want your brakes to be like. You can do an upsized rear cylinder and bigger bore front caliper all the way to 4 wheel discs and dual piston calipers on bigger rotors... all your choice. To make it more affordable you can get undesirable appearance pattern larger factory rims to clear big rotors if need be, save the $1500+ it'd take for nice new rims/tires for now.
After that I'd upgrade my cooling system, continue the pattern of reliable. Youll notice a pattern in my thinking - nothing worse than spending all the time and money on a car that's broken so often you can't enjoy it. By leaving the appearance stuff for last you don't need to worry about scratching shiny new paint or getting things dirty working on it, especially with so much to change.
At this point you've got your underlying systems all sorted out - fuel, air, spark, braking, cooling, rear end, they're all sbc compatible and everything was redone. You take a weekend and drop your new engine and trans in without being held up by the other stuff either not fitting right, something having a production error , something breaking during removal and needing fixing.
Maybe mixed in there you do some regasketing on valve covers if smoky, or oil pan if drippy. AGM battery in the biggest size that fits if yours weakens. Most stuff carries over to a 350/383/400/etc when the time comes.
