newbie needs help, imagine that...

[junktruck]

ok guys, i'm new but i figured i'd go ahead and start posting. i have a 82 long bed that i got for free. not much cancer at all just minor surface rust. cab corners are good, along with rockers and floor pans. the only cancer is in the pass. door. but it had a 350 that i pulled out that is now a boat anchor. it has a huge gash in the cylinder wall i can lay a nickel in and it's flush with the cylinder wall. i think one spot is worse because it broke into the water jacket. i'm wanting a RELIABLE truck. i stress reliable because i'm not gonna have the money to redo the engine down the road. i'm wanting to kinda go with the prostreet/raked look/street rod look. no offense to the guys that like to drag frame, i just don't think its for me. i want it to look like a hot rod and BE a hot rod. but i can't drop in a big block with 900hp. one, i don't have the budget, two, i want to be able to drive it everyday if i want to. it's not gonna be my daily, but if i want to drive it for a week straight then i don't want to have reliability concerns. sorry for the long ramble, but what engine size, engine combo, foward movement would you guys suggest? i'm leaning towards a 383 or 350. one of the two.


thanks in advance, junk

ps i'd like anyone to walk up to it and say man, that thing has got one helluva cam in it. i want it to cut a lick, but not two much that i have a lot of vacumm issues. and i'm working off a 5000 buck engine budget.
thanks guys and sorry so long.