Im a little late to the party....here's my 2 cents. Eventually i would like to go back to a cruiser/driver, reinstalling the AC. I dont think i would go back to iron exhaust manifolds, hp's maybe but Id look at making the 318 more efficient. Clean up the heads, smaller valves helps the low end, off idle, fuel atomization. If you stay with a milder cam, 2.02's overkill. 9.5 compression is my target. Possibly going to an LA roller 318 or magnum with LA valve covers. I too like the stock look.
904 Transmission, lighter internals, less power loss. I thought about an overdrive....lighter a500, so i could stay with 3.91's. I like the off the line, 1 - 2 shift with a good chirp to surprise the unsuspecting. i was following a /6 fastback years ago, i had a cammed 318 with 3.23s. He jumped me off the line, caught him by 2nd and pulled away. He had 4.10s 8.75.
my 7.25 with 2.76 lasted, i swapped to an 8.75 but for a cruiser i thought about finding a lighter 8.25. My thinking for the whole project, lighten up the entire rotating assembly to free up power and minimize power loss. Squeeze out fuel mileage for when gas is hard to come by.
Nice car and build!
