Any help planning a build that will be cost effecive ?

In my head, it's hard to say "budget" but cost effective can be done. Just read as much as possible here to figure out what factory parts can interchange to work in a swap. That way you keep from buying all the fancy aftermarket stuff...

I think the cost of a hemi carb intake, a nice carb, and the MSD ign controller really isn't that much less than a standalone harness and a early truck ECU set up from one of the vendors. The only real savings from going carb is that the fuel system is way cheaper.

But, if it is going to be a daily, a carb is not even in the ballpark for ease of drivability of a factory tuned ECU/EFI car.

Otherwise I agree with kern dog. Manifolds, old school trans, (I'd go 904 with low gear set to improve efficiency) tighter converter and mild gears...

Joe