Certainly some strange advice you've had so far ("Forget the 2bbl and go directly to a four"), given the kind of car you have, where you live, and your stated goals of simplifying matters. I didn't read in your question anything about wanting to make a race car or swap in a V8 or any such thing.
You do indeed have a hard situation on your hands (strangled California '81 engine struggling to pull a heavy car around at 5,500 feet above sea level). However, you also have a rebuilt engine, so unless you like spending money, your most cost-effective way forward will probably be to make changes to things like the induction, ignition, and exhaust systems — things that don't require re-rebuilding the engine. Later on, if you still feel you need more, you can get into things like a better camshaft and such.
The factory 2bbl setup works really well and requires a great deal less fiddling and tuning and futzing around than a 4bbl setup. They're not as common in wrecking yards as they used to be, but if you keep your eyes open, one should eventually show up at Pull 'n' Save (off Peoria @ 33rd in Aurora) or Colorado Auto & Parts (@ the end of Radcliffe off Santa Fe Blvd). You'd need the air cleaner, carb, intake, shorter throttle cable, and complete kickdown linkage and bracket assembly. Stock carb is a Carter BBD which, in good repair, is a very good choice. Holley made a 2280 as an aftermarket replacement carb for this setup; in good repair that one's a fine choice, too. Other 2bbls (Motorcraft 2100, Holley 2300, etc.) have been adapted with success.
An ignition recurve should definitely be on the short list of mods — does your California '81 have Lean Burn, with a distributor that lacks a vacuum advance?
But before we get too far into this project: what's the current emissions testing situation in the Denver-Metro area? When I left in '00-'01, 1982 and newer vehicles had to go through the I/M240 chassis dyno test run by Envirocare, while '81 and older vehicles got the simpler FTP75 "idle and 2500rpm" test. If that's still the case, you've got a good deal more lattitude in the modifications you can get away with. If that's changed and '81 vehicles have to have the I/M240 test, you'll have to be much more thoughtful about what you do and don't change.
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