It depends on how the motor is built now. Is it stock?? If so, there are improvements that can be made here. A cam that enhances low to mid range torque, plus an early (pre-1972) style timing gear set.
Tubular headers and free flowing dual exhaust instead of factory manifolds.
A factory intake manifold is actually a tough one to beat in the torque dept.
It will run strong from idle up to about 4000 RPMs, then it simply runs out of breath.
If you're going to change it, stay with something close to its characteristics...like a Performer.
Any suggestions for a "band aid" cam that would work in the above setup without touching the heads? I know a lot of HP is being left on the table by not doing any head work, but since a change to a performer intake would be in order, you're half way to a cam change anyway.
Maybe just get the Edelbrock Performer Plus cam/lifters kit (not Performer RPM) for $200 shipped from Summit and a $50 timing chain and keep your iron intake. You get .460"/.480" lift and 194/204 duration at .050". That should hang with your stock springs.
Edelbrock wants you to swap springs too, but their "Sure Seat" 5867 springs are cheap ($40 for the set) and work with the factory retainers and locks. You could do a backyard spring swap with a piece of white cotton washline rope and a twist-style spring compressor (did it all the time in the 1970's and 1980's). Total cost of $240 and your gaskets.
We used 1.8 rockers to get a little more lift. Mild exhaust port work (egr bump). Port match intake. Edlebrock Performer. 9.5:1. Pulls really hard around 3500-3800.
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