Engine planning, need input and suggestions

[fly4spd]

I’m saving up for a new engine, mine has over 200,000 miles on it and it has extremely bad oil leaks and just doesn’t run like it used to. I’ve been thinking about this for a while and now I would like your input on stuff I need to think about, if parts will work together. What I want out of this is: performance, street-ability, and reliable, hoping 100k miles. Since I live very close to school and work (I walk everyday), it will basically be a weekend car (sometimes grocery getting), I guess overall goal is a nice street/strip engine.

This is what I have been looking at so far;
331 (I don’t know which kit to get yet, and whether I should get a kit or short block)
AFR 185 (don’t know what size, 58, 60, or 61 cc)
Weiland stealth intake manifold
Road demon 625 (I already have)
MSD distributer
MSD 6AL

Aluminum valve covers

Now for the questions
1. What balance/imbalance should I get?
2. Should I get all forged internals or just pistons? Eventually, I plan on using (at max) a 150 HP shot of nitrous (I’m pretty set on the NOS Sniper system), track only.
3. What would be a good cam and lifters to go with this combo?
4. What oil pump/pickup should I use/ do you recommend?
5. What compression ratio should I aim for? I want to use pump gas of course, and the highest grade in NV is 91 octane.
6. I have no engine building experience, but I have lots of patience. Can I build this myself with a 1990 302 from a mustang or should I get a short block that is already assembled.
7. What am I forgetting to think about?

Thanks for your help

 

[fly4spd]

Any input would be helpful, even if its saying that this is a good or bad combo that i'm working for.

 

[Grn92LX]

I'm gonna recommend a 347. Fwiw its the same price as a 331. I'd say look into the basic scat or eagle kit. Cast crank with forged rods and pistons. The afr 185's are decent, use the 58cc stud mount ones. I'd shoot for at least 10.5:1 compression. I'm about 11:1 compression on my 347 with zero issues on 93 pump gas (aside from being a gas guzzler)

I'm not too sure about card recommendations, but i'd say a victor jr intake would work out great. As always, a custom grind cam designed to get you your goals with the right valve springs to match. 1 3/4" longtube headers and a 3" mid pipe preferred.

28 oz is what most of the basic kits usually get balanced to at the machine shop. I use a melling oil pump in mine with a fms shaft. I'm not sure what the difference is in this pump I use, but I know its better than stock.