If your wallet currently contains only enthusiasm, do this in stages. Take it from an old fart, learn in steps. Spend the money as it comes. Just get the car where you want it before you make babies. My hobby is still in park.
😉
Here is an excellent place to start:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12530283. This is a stock replacement Chevy 'R' truck motor. Vortec heads, roller cam, one-piece rear main seal, all new tin and a new balancer. I think it also has hypereutectic pistons, but it may not have the fuel pump pad drilled. You will already have the best budget iron heads GM offered. The 1.94 valves make decent low-RPM torque. You can redo the heads later to add bigger springs for bigger cams. The LT4 'Hot' cam slips right in with a valve spring change. You'll need a Vortec intake manifold, but you should be able to use regular Chevy 350 exhaust manifolds until you can add headers later. You'll need a flexplate that matches the one-piece crank bolt pattern. If you have a current 305 or 350, all the accessories and starter should bolt on. Get new motor mounts, an Edelbrock 1406 carburetor and a new/rebuilt mechanical HEI distributor. Moving aft, I'd buy or rebuild a 700-R4. The 3.06:1 first gear lets you keep your 2-series rear axle initially and still launch the 3500-lb bomb. There are lockup kits to make one work without a computer, and you'll appreciate the overdrive gear when you keep finding yourself at the gas pump. Try to find an 87-90 core (Camaro/Firebird/Suburban) with a mechanical speedo sender. Summit and Jeg's sell rebuilt ones. If you can afford dual exhaust, and don't have emission laws, get the Jeg's G-body dual kit:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+ ... 1/10002/-1 This one includes a special crossmember set up for the 700-R4 trans mount.
This prescription is around $4200 all together. Later you can go hog-wild with upgrades as your wallet expands.
This is how I would have done it if I could go back and have a chat with my noobie self. My car has spent far too much time on jackstands in the past 14 years. If you're not driving it, you're not enjoying it.
ssn696
