I concur with Jerry, re; titanium pushrods - retainers yes, but I've not seen titanium pushrods.

As to intake - your "Streetmaster" manifold is a 40+ year component designed to increase torque on a SBC. As I recall, it's a small runner, single plane manifold. I'd e-bay that manifold and go with a newer design, specifically; Edelbrock Performer RPM and new Quadrajet. Good all around driver and when you nail those secondaries you get solid response and that infamous deep throat sound that made them famous. GM used them for years with great success.

I like Edelbrock carbs, but my experience has been that that run rich "out-of-the-box" and as has been mentioned above, they need to be tuned which typically means new main jets and rods.

Summit sells the Edelbrock Performer RPM for spread bore (7104) for $185.95 and their rebuilt 750CFM Q-Jet (21022) for $299.95. Gaskets (Edelbrock 7201) $15.95 and some nice new bolts (Edelbrock 8504) $14.95 and you'll have a screamer.

Good Luck,
Glenn