[Tom Goldman]

A FEW are good combos , Very few are inexpensive at entry level.
The Rogue 290 is always offered up as a possibility ,Although finding one that is decent enough to start a build from is difficult and the engine is not cheap to build correctly.
The best entry level car is the '77 Gremlin 258 2bbl combo for R or T .
The biggest expense is the cylinder head , Stock rods and Badger cast pistons will last for years …...The car itself can use a stock model 20 rear with Moser street axles ,4.44 gears and a stock posi with slapper bars and decent shocks
A stock 998 2.75 first gear trans with a Cheatah valve body and a good converter are all that's necessary for a basic car that can still run 80-90 under with the proper tuning.