318 engine build

This is easier than you think but cost is going to depend on your assessment of the engine when you tear it down.

You need to examine your internal components. Do lots of measuring/plastigage.

You need to know if
1) Your crank needs regrinding.
2) Your rods need resizing or if they are bent.
3) Your pistons are reusable
4) Valve guides/seats in good shape.
5) The bores need to go oversize. You cant guess about this. Get a new single standard piston ring, square it up in the bore with a piston and measure the gap.
6) Check to see how far out the decks are. Use a 4 foot level and feeler gauges.

The cheapest route I think you can go ( I've researched VERY extensively )
is the enginetech kit. The prices I'll give are for the premium kit. The economy kit is $20 less,so not much different. Engineteck pistons are made in the states (Sealed power I think) and thier parts are fine.

RMCR318BP kit will give you the following:
Rings
Rod bearings
Main bearings
Gaskets
Rear main seal

Thats $100 and it's really basic

The next step up adds the following:
Pistons
Cam bearings
Full gasket set
Timing set
Oil pump
expansion plugs

$251,but still no cam

The next step gets you a cam and lifters and costs $348. That is a stocker cam though.

Another $14 gets the stage 1 cam which has 106/116 centrelines 204/214 duration and .281/.296 lift @.050. Another $10 gets you a double roller timing chain/gears. $41 gets the hi volume oil pump.

O.K,now heres the deal. If the motor needs machining and you dont do it it wont last and more than likely will have catastrophic failure. There goes the money you just spent. May have well just wipe your *** with it.

Trust me on this. I have gone cheap and been bit.

That being said,if you check the motor out and everything is good,You can be happy and simply rering/regasket it. Throw the Summit cam/lifters at it and mud ball hone the cylinders. Use a new oil pump,bearings. If the rods are crap,cheap ones can be had from PAW. They are on sale right now. $80 gets you a set of stock reconditioned rods that has been checked resized/shotpeened. I think ones with ARP bolts can be had for $60 more.

Do the measuring.