[Super73]

I think it is very doable with the right combo. For instance (slightly extream) take my friends early 90's RX7 LS1 swap. He went with a "stealth cam" and AFR heads on a stock shortblock. Car makes 400+ rwhp through a 3,600rpm stall yet idles like stock and I do mean that. Has run a best of 10.4x on motor with a good DA and countless 10.5-10.6's.

Car drives to the track getting mid 20mpg..

Given it is sub 3000lbs but my point is alot is posible if it is well thought out. It just might cost you some money.

Rebuild the shortblock. Use stock stuff for the time being. Think about this combo and put some money away towards it. It isn't that hard to pull heads and a cam out later and put the better stuff on it. Doing it right the first time well, it can be done in stages sort of..