Mild Torque 318 suggestions wide open!

I have a weird thing about throwing out good parts. Call it a tic. I also have a thing about factory looking engines, I hate alloy intakes and chrome air cleaners. I'm also irritated by people who post just to sneer at me.
YES I said no magnums. They might be plentiful in junkyard near you but not here. and it means going out and getting ANOTHER engine (with cracked heads) and taking that to the machine shop to be checked. I'd trade if someone wanted my checked out block/heads in partial trade for their checked out Magnum stuff but I'm not going to abandon a good motor for no reason.
YES I am going to be happy with 250. My wife would be happy with dead stock. I'm going to push it a little but I know her limits- the first time it overheats in traffic or develops a highway drone she is going to fume.
I don't see anyone doing this kind of rebuild anywhere- it's always "gimme the highest power I can get out of this thing" I've got a pretty large budget but anything I can save will go to a new rearend, if I can bundle that in at the same time I'd be saving myself a headache. Just looking for advice, not judgment on my car/sanity/wife.
Thanks to you all.