225 Rebuild from scratch

OK, well since budget and reliability are the keys for you, then it is time to drop the turbo upgrades and go basic. Yes a simple bore with stock cast pistons like Sealed Power 244NP types, and then mill the head and block a bunch to get the compression ratio up. Then put in a decent torque cam and go with a 2 BBL or small 4 BBL carb and I think you will be pretty happy with it as a first step. The stock bottom end will be fine at that level.

Part of what is holding back torque the low actual compression ratio; it is in the under 8:1 range stock and goes a bit lower with a later, thicker head gasket. Milling the head and block a combination of .120" will get you up into the high 8's to 9 static CR range. Once you get there, that will be a very decent street compression ratio and you can put in a slightly bigger cam to take better advantage of a larger carb without dropping the low RPM torque into the toilet.

So for a streeter, and daily driver, and a /6 with a limited breathing head, low RPM torque is the thing to seek; that is where I would head with no question.

And FYI, if you mill the head/block that amount then you may want shorter push rods. And you need to know the cam so that you will be able to make sure that the valves do not hit the pistons with the shorter deck height from the milling. So some planning is needed if you do this much milling.

Pay the $$ for a good timing chain. The standard ones tend to stretch and retard the timing. I'd also figure out the best way to advance the cam a few degrees.

BTW, once you settle on what you can do to the block and head as far as milling, and pick a carb, then I would steer you towards Doug Dutra (Dr Dodge on slantsix.org)

Just don't go too big on carb or cam.

What kind of trans do you have? And do you have a head for that block?