I admire a truck with the original engine, but I'd never build one - they're far too slow for my taste.
There is no amount of speed equipment (exception: blower, nitrous) that will produce the same power from a 235 as you already have in a stock 350. Adding carbs, split manifolds, etc. makes a hole in your wallet, and you still only have 200 hp.
The narrowest V8 engines across the exhaust ports are Ford Windsor low deck (289, 302), which gives about 2" more clearance to the steering than a SBC.
