spend my money

[i82much]

I have a 1972 K10 longbed, 32 inch tires, 2” lift, mild 396 with a TH350. 32” tires and 3.73 gears. Let’s say I want to throw 5 grand or thereabouts out of the window. Do I:

(1) do a manual conversion to an SM465 with a gear vendors, or
(2) build a mild 496, flat tappet with factory oval ports.

One constraint is that I want to run exhaust manifolds and dual 2” exhaust, not looking for a hot rod. I have a functional heat riser valve and I like it! Also I plow my driveway with the truck, never plowed with a manual. I imagine the granny gear in the SM465 isn’t so bad but I’m not sure.

Spend away folks!