Three grand is a good start. Also, rebuilt rear with 4.10s is huge (not to mention gonna save a grand plus).
Don't bother messing with the factory heads. They're probably cracked anyway. If you want to keep things budget friendly, look at a set of Hughes Iron Rams or JEGS EngineQuest heads. Around $1,200 for an assembled set and they have thicker castings between the valves to eliminate that pesky cracking problem plus have slightly larger ports. Or, if you can get porting work done for cheap or do it yourself, you can just pick up a set of aftermarket heads that have OEM-sized ports but still have thicker castings for $6-700. Check L&C Enterprises on eBay. I got a set of heads from them a few years back and haven't had any issues that I can detect. These use OEM-spec springs however and won't hold up well to aftermarket cams. You could contact them and see if they'll send you a pair of bare heads and get whatever you need from springs afterwards.
As far as the cam goes, the optimum cam maximizes running compression as well as allows more volume of airflow into the cylinders. This is virtually impossible to pinpoint without knowing the static compression of the engine so the optimum cam depends largely on the pistons and heads you're planning to use. It is said that the factory cam can support surprisingly large power but does tend to yield lowish running compression which is certainly done for general reliability. Generally speaking, iron heads won't support as much running compression due to them tending to hold more heat than aluminum heads which can increase the likelihood of "knocking."
Now, you could install a methanol injection setup which will significantly cool the air/fuel mixture and allow you to run even more compression but now you're getting a little out in left field plus compromise reliability doing so.
Lots of stuff goes into it. That's why the top engine builders always have an edge over everyone else; they look at every little detail and ensure that all parts work together optimally. But if you're not trying to aim for total precision, you'll still make 4-500 ponies pretty easy if you got the cash.
Also, love the Viper look. If I ever bought a second-gen, that's the paint scheme I'd go with. +1 on the shaker scoop as well.