No replacement for displacement

Im wanting to bore my crank and i asked a local machine shop about honnig and sleeving. He told be it doesnt increase horsepower but i wasnt looking for a major gain in ponies. i just wanted a solid bottom half. my question is will i need forged rods and pistons on a non-turbocharged b18a block. I just want a solid naturally aspirated motor to be able to handle 200-250 at the wheels:icon16:

all motor is expensive and a waste of time IMO. You're going to spend $3-4k to get the bottom end built. If you're going all motor, you might see 210whp and then you'd need head work because you'd max out the stock flow. If you were to boost, you could spend that same amount and make 300whp or more.

There is absolutely NO POINT to sleeve your engine unless you can't bore it over to 85mm without sleeving.