i would look at getting a top end kit from trickflow or holley or edelbrock they are well balanced components for each other and they are very streetable, i believe some kits are good for 50 states, so the cams shouldn't be too aggresive.
sounds quite slack to me, you probably want about ten to twelve thou. for backlash. make sure you check the contact pattern when your done. don't attempt a r&p install without some shims kickin around.
make sure the suspension is loaded when checking for movement. even new parts can be slack. put a jack under the contol arm and get the wheel off the ground when checking. spindle wear should be evident when you have the rotor off. they don't wear out normally, unless you had a bearing go dry at...
unfortunately this is the kind of stuff that happens to doityerselfers far more frequently than professionals. fortunately for you, you have a fairly reasonable fix as far as block and machine work go. price wise. i've seen worse stuff. good luck. i bet there were a few f bombs flying after you...
my polished edelbrock looks nice. any upper/lower combo that's polished looks pretty good. takes a bit of elbow grease. you shouldn't need to polish the lower cause you can't see too much of it anyways.
if you get an install kit for a tranny cooler, you get plastic straps much like zapstraps, with rubber isolators, they go right through the core. neat and tidy.