Cheap and Easy upgrades

[rich weyand]

Yeah I'll get on the ignition first. Any suggestions?

Here's my recommendation.  Let's see what others say.

Stick with the ACDelco HEI distributor.  Pull it and make sure the bearing is OK.  Put a new module in it because they get tired.  Put a new coil in it because they get tired.  You can use an Accel coil if you want.  New cap and rotor.  Again, you can use the Accel ones if you want.  Put an AR23 vacuum can on it.  (That's assuming the emissions controls are going bye-bye.)  They can be hard to find.  Here's the cross-reference:
ECHLIN VC1853
AIRTEX 4V1054
CARQUEST 57-7563
WELLS DV1853  <<-- There's one of these on Amazon for $20.
GM 19138053
GM 1973482
ACDelco D1321A

Put NAPA blue or (better) Taylor (74206) spark plug wires on it.  Use ACDelco R45TS or Autolite 24 plugs gapped .045".

The Accel cap and rotor is Accel 8122.  There are other colors.

The Accel coil is 140013.

That just probably ate up your budget for this round right there.

[VileZambonie]

I would recommend an MSD ignition and distributor. I know people who run the Summit Racing version which is just a lesser expensive version and they like it but I have never used them personally.

[Flyinhillbilly]

I had a lot of bad luck with MSD in the latter part of the first decade of this millennium. I still use MSD in my race car, but it's the old one. Works perfect even though it's 20+ years old. I went through 4 6AL's in 08 alone an swore off of new MSD anything.

[gwcrim]

My build was sort of like yours.  I started with a 305 and collected parts until now I have a nice 400 installed.

I agree that the ignition should be high on the list.  Points suck and you can use the new one on the new engine.  I bought an Accel distributor.  Nothing fancy but it's good quality at a good price.

Headers are a good choice.  Nice bang for the buck plus you get to choose a nice new exhaust sound.

A Performer intake is a great choice and they are all over the place used and cheap.  Don't be afraid of a Carter or Edlebrock carb.  They're really good and again, a little less cash.  Holley's get top dollar.