need help on a rebuild

i was wandering if some of u guys could help me out. i have an 86 monte carlo ss and i just bought my wife an 84 monte so mybe shell stay outta mine. she wants me to build a hot street engine 4 her but still be a daily driver.My dad helped me with mine but since hes not here 2 help what would be a good cam, intake, and head choice? i got a 2-bolt main block punched 40 over. also what is a good piston choice and are they any difference in the rings and bearings out there? i have alot of experience putting a small block chevy 2gether i just dont really kno how 2 pick out parts 2 make them perform like they should. and if at all possible it needs 2 be on a tight budget cause me and the wife have a baby girl on the way  

Get a good name brand hypertectic piston set with a cr around 9.5:1 w/ a 64cc chamber head(like speed pro).an edelbrock dual plane like a performer.get a flat tappet cam with a lift around 480-500@.050 and a duration in 220's to low 230's.finally a set of vortec heads.bearings get some clevite rod and mains and some durabond cam bearings.these are all reliable budget parts that should get you a real street freindly 400hp.  

i forgot 2 mention that the car has the factory th200-4r overdrive trans in it. do i need 2 upgrade it or will it stand the fresh motor? i htought about putting a th350 behind it. and if i put the cam u suggested in it will i have 2 run a stall converter? thank u 4 ur help. it is greatly appreciated!  

no stall needed if u stick with a 268 or smaller cam , the 2004r is an amazing transmission , its light , has overdrive and it can take punishment.

2004r's live behind the legendary grand nationals.
read the articles on art carr's website.

http://www.cpttransmission.com/

http://www.200raptor.com/  

500 lift on the cam is a little big for a daily driver and still have good street manners besides you would have to have the vortecs machined to handle more lift.I do not recommend clevite bearings have had problems out of them I have used federal mogul and summit bearing which are made by king bearings and never had any problems with them.

Here is what I would recommend a set of summit heads P#SUM-152123 they have 2.02/1.60 valves and 165cc runners and 67cc combustion chambers a summit stage 1 intake P#SUM-226008 and a Lunati cam P#10001LK or northern has cam upgrades you can add to the rebuild kit at reasonable prices as well.

You may want to check www.northernautoparts.com for a rebuild kit.  
Horsepower sells Engines and torque wins races.

keep the 2004r its a nice over drive transmission. All of thoes budget parts are good.  

a cam with a 490 lift has a great mix of power and sreetability.i know plenty of people who run them and the motor has great street manners.if you want less power go smaller.  

Once you get up around .500 lift You also start having problems with not have enough vacuum for the power brakes to work properly alot of times.
Going smaller on the cam doesn't always mean less power and bigger on the cam does not always mean more power it is all about matching up the combo to work together and the intended use.
I would use a cam in the .450-.470 lift range.  
Horsepower sells Engines and torque wins races.

ya thatll still make good power.i run power brakes on a 490 cam corrected 1.6=520-522 with no probs.small block chevys usually dont have vacuum problems till 550-575 or so and a larger duration  

I have seen them have problems at .500 lift were they had to run a vacuum reserve canister for the power brakes.  
Horsepower sells Engines and torque wins races.

thats wild man we run them with no problems.i forgot its his wifes car anyways shed probably be happier around 350hp  

honestly i would build up a mild 305, they are great motors, and can produce good power while retaining economy. a good 305 with some flat top pistons for about a 9.5:1 compression ratio, a mild camshaft that makes its power from about 1,200rpm, good dual plane intake, some headers, and a quadra-jet carb.  

i wouldnt wast my time with the 305 even if its gunna be low power, just make a low power 350 if thats what you want. later if she or who ever wants more power you  can make it with out the low cubes slowing you down.  

Duration of the cam affects vacuum more than lift will. A cam with 230 degrees of duration @.050  or less works a little better for street manners.  Like most have said you need a set of quality flattop pistons,vortec heads work great on the street. Make sure the valvesprings will work for the cam.  

agreed thats why i have no vacuum problems with my .500 lift cam cause its duration is 226-228@.050