High Compression 390

It’s a shame they don’t offer E85 in Elbert, you could run higher cr and any cam.

I still think you’d have better luck rebuilding the 318 with well machined heads, nice rockers, the right cam for the remainder of the drivetrain and going EFI. Stock bores and pistons if the math adds up. You would trade off displacement and some power but you’d gain driveabily, start ability, fuel efficiency, and performance over a carb and a simple ignition system. And you won’t have a high-altitude-only truck.

Plus if you play it right, you could get this close, maybe under your budget.