Stan Galat posted:The absolute sweet-spot (IMHO) is a 2110 with a W120(ish) cam. If I were doing it, I'd buy a CB Builder's Choice 2110 kit, and never look back. Bolt on a set of 40s and a 1-1/2" header, and you'll have a reasonably powerful, happy, cool running, long-lived Type 1. It'll make 140-150 hp, and be happy pulling a highway gear or revving in the mountains.
I'd couple it with a stock geared transaxle, but swap the 4th with a .93 and put in a 3.88 R/P-- again, that's the sweet-spot that doesn't break the bank. The gears "feel right" and can happily pull you all day long on any 2-lane highway in America. Yes-- there will be times you wish for a gear between 3rd and 4th, but on the whole you can think of the $3000 you saved on the 5 speed, and the $3000- 4000 you saved not trying to make the 5-speed fit your car, and just be happy.
You'll note I used the word "happy" or some derivation of it 4 times and "sweet-spot" twice. That's because this is the one that isn't super-expensive to build and provides (by far) the most bang for the buck.
well said, but I still save for that five speed