200s Engine Build

[UI Vandal]

Just got my 200s last week and I have been loving it. Downside is that it smokes a bit. Ill ride it through the summer, but plan on doing a rebuild in the fall. My bud has a 200x which I will use as my power goal. I was thinking of getting a cheap cam (used 200x or new xr200 so I dont have to worry about wear), a 66mm 10.5 piston, then clean up the head/valves a bit. I am trying to keep costs under $300.
Do you think this is doable?
Would this put me ahead of a stock 200x?
Any suggestions to better use my budget?
Will the stock 200s carb be sufficient for this level of build?
Is my transmission pretty safe with this power increase?
I plan on keeping this for a while, then adding a 250sx/200x/350x next year (or two). Dont have to answer all questions, feel free to give a couple cents of knowledge!

[UI Vandal]

How about simplifying it?
Say you have a 200s that smokes a bit.
You have a maximum of $300 to spend.
You have a bud with a 200x that you would like to be a little quicker than.
You want good reliability.
What would you do?

[3wheelmecca]

It will be less than $300. If you want, you could send your head to me to get the valves done.
It was about $200 to rebuild my T-3. Sounds like you need a top end only.

[UI Vandal]

So you think I can get all of these things done for <$300? With the engine mods, would DG or Cobra exhaust be worth it? Would just a header be benefitial? Should I get 3 angle job for the valves or just some lapping?

[Big Red Drew]

you need a xr200r cam and a xr200r carb. the xr200r carb is bigger than 200s and 200x carb. you could also use a stock xr200r piston and bore your cylinder to 65.5mm and have 10 to 1 compression. you might possibly need stiffer clutch springs too. use ebay and you can keep it under $300

[UI Vandal]

I thought the angle would keep me from using the xr200 carb? During my research I remember someone saying that you need a new inlet tube for a xr200 to fit on a 200x, but it was a no go on the 200s. I know the carbs go 22mm for my 200s, 24mm for 200x, and 26mm for the xr200. I might just get an EBay 200x carb, but then I would need to get a new throttle control because the 200s adjusts by carb, but the 200x adjusts by the control. Is this correct?
Used pistons from a xr200 don’t seem to be plentiful/much cheaper than a brand new package with rings, gaskets, etc. Ebay has definitely been my friend so far. Anybody’s thoughts on where to get an aftermarket header pipe? I am thinking I might keep the stock muffler (not a big fan of LOUD!) but get a larger (1 3/8") header pipe. Thoughts?