4 barrel 318

The Topless Fish is a 68 convertible. Bone stock 318 With 90000 miles, automatic transmission. The car is a Saturday Night Drive-in vehicle, slowly being restored and driven about 500 miles per year.

I'm looking, in a few years, to do a Coast-to-Coast drive on US-6 and before then would like to install a 4 barrel carb for better fuel mileage (and slightly better performance, of course). The engine compression checks all cylinders at 115-125 PSI. I had not planned on changing anything other than the intake and carburetor. I have been vacillating between installing a 340 intake (which I have) and 318 4 barrel intake (which seem hard to find).

I have been a offered a new Edelbrock Performer intake PN 2176 with a cam and lifter set PN 2177 to match for less that $200.00. Since I like Edelbrock Carbs, anyway this seems like possibly a more sensible way to go. Edelbrock calls this a Street Performance combo, and does recommend it for the 318/340/360. But here's the question.

If I install the cam and intake without head work will I ever get it running right? Will it do any good to install the intake without the cam? The transmission will get overhauled eventually, should I change the torque converter from stock if I do change the intake and cam?

The easiest thing for me to do is install the stock 340 intake and a 4 barrel Edelbrock, will I be be happy with the way that combo runs?

Thanks for the help!