Ok so I should probably post something more helpful than a suggestion to hot rod a Renault!
Neither of my cars really fit the budget idea anymore, but I did put together a 413 for my brother that was really a bunch of leftover parts. The short block was left at the machine shop in pieces so the price was right. A old set of iron heads with 2.08/1.88 valves and single 4 intake went on it, the cam was a flat tappet w/500 lift. Couldn’t fit a bigger cam as the valves were too close to the cylinders on the intake side. Compression wound up around 9.75 to one. In a 3700 lb car it runs 12.20’s which supposedly works out to roughly 400 hp at the wheel. With 400 at the wheel of a 1500 lb car it looks like low nines? Anyway, even with totally mismatched parts it made decent power, and with the lightweight of an FED 400 hp goes a long way.
Big down side to big block mopars is the block is heavy, and wide. My starter is relocated to the right side, and getting in/out is tough. Small block should solve both problems.
I put together a 360 magnum for my other brother that was really nothing more than a 408 stroker kit with a cam someone was getting rid of. It was something like 217 duration on the intake at 050 and mid 500’s lift with the rockers he had. That ran mid 12’s in a 3800 lb truck, so similar power.
In any case, I would stick to a flat tappet cam. Most of my $$ was spent on upgrading valve train parts to keep up with the roller cam, and valve springs get to be an expensive maintenance item over time. No doubt getting the job done with a SBC would be easier, parts are everywhere. But if you have the small block mopar, use it and enjoy! Low 9’s or high 8’s is still quick and would still get the adrenaline flowing, plus, you’ll still have the coolest car at any given track, given the engine placement!
BTW, love your car. It has that old school style I wish my car had.
Tony
