I'm a big fan of simple performance upgrades...ie: cam, head improvement, intake, correct/tuned quadrajet, dual plane intake, etc.
I'm not a fan of the 'full house' performance stuff....too much cam, usually way too much duration (typical), bad holley, etc, etc.....it seems these vehicles have driveability problems 90% of the time.
As for a 402, I wouldn't mess with it too much...but I would upgrade the cam, and give the heads/valves a 3 angle valve job, port-match them to a quality intake, etc...then tune the hexx out of the factory quadrajet.
Then, I would leave it stock appearing...factory GM orange....noting that the chrome stuff has been to overdone for my taste, but everyone's taste is different and there's nothing wrong with that
Coley