95 Dakota build

Let me walk through your build like it was a super stocker
stock heads and stock bottom end and weight
to win super stock you have to run a long duration cam to make any hp with the stock heads (no square lobe cheater cam in this class)
so you figure your shift point with the rpm drop given your trans and gears (like 512's )
you end up with an as narrow as possible but as high as possible
and a vehicle that has to go to the races on a trailer
you have a very loose converter or stick shift
essentially that's an ok build if that's what you want to do
Do the trans like I said with a 47 core
Do the 360 with the 318 cam and a new chain get the 9 way gear
dial in your chassis and your carb and dist work on your 60 ft times
you can do headers and new cam easily later
cheers