Ford Repair: 331 stroker, canfield heads, nickel and dime

Question
I am currently attending college to become auto technician but the classes I am taking dont involve me in any performance related situations. I have to rebuild an engine for class credit and I want to build my 1989 mustang EFI 302 into a 331 stroker. I am planning on getting the BBK SSI Intake with the additional fuel rails and throttle body I want to upgrade the distributor to a MSD unit. I was wondering what cam specs will work best for the street. What heads do you think will flow the best I want aluminum. The exhaust is all done that was the first thing to get changed.I know there is alot of things I have left out please tell me what else I need to build this engine and build it right the first time. I also would like to put a 5 speed what would u reccommend.  

Answer
Chris-

  Yeah...I've been there and done that.  Most college auto tech classes are just about repair...which isn't bad, but it took me 4 years to figure that out.  As for the cam, it really depends more on what you want the car to do and where you want it to make power.  For a regular street application (and without knowing what kind of emissions standards you have to deal with, if any) I would recommend one of Comp Cams Xtreme Energy grinds.  I'd pick one that's not too big, but not one of the mildest they have.  Those grinds have pretty aggressive lobe ramps so you'll need to beef up the valvetrain just a bit, but that shouldn't be a problem since you're getting new heads anyway.  For heads I'd either go with AFR 185s or Canfield heads.  Canfields don't get nearly as much attention as they should in my opinion since they're good heads that can be gotten relatively cheap and flow well.  There's no real trick to putting together a 331 vs a 5.0L or anything else.  Just remember to prep the block properly and remember to notch the bottom of the cylinders to clear the extra length in stroke and also remember that now probably isn't a good time to nickel and dime parts.  Oh...and as for the transmission, it's all about personal preference.  I personally prefer an automatic with a stalled converter and a shift kit, but some guys just gotta have 5 speeds.  A stock 5 speed will live behind a mild 331 stroker as long as it's not abused regularly.  It's all about what you want and how you like to drive.  Hope this helps.

Steve