In a perfect world I'd have all Conquests or TE's. Being that living in the bay area ain't cheap, I have a lot of decent, but not super expensive reels.

Disclaimer:
Jacking around with the parts in your reel will void the warranty.

How to build a pretty kick ass swimbait reel for a good price:

Get a Shimano Cardiff 300.
Get a dartainium drag washer and some shimano drag grease
Replace the washer and coat lightly with grease
The washer you are replacing is the innermost one, the one that sits inside the big gear
Get a handle for a 400TE
The hole in the TE handle is too big for the Cardiff
But if you just screw it in super tight, it will hold on the reel no problem
Lube the levelwind up, I just use some generic Penn reel lube
Spool it up with 25lb and go to town

I've been fishing my Cardiffs for going on 3 years with about zero maintenance and they are still sweet. They aren't TE's, they don't have phenomenal casting, but they get the job done.