So, Im getting ready to start gathering parts for an engine swap, and Im faced with so many options, Im lost. I wanted some advice from some of you guys who have done it.

I can go three ways basically:
1) Crate 350, on the cheap. @290 hp, and less than $2500 to buy it all.
2) Crate long block. 400 hp, and a 383. Lots more power, but it looks like itll cost about $4000-4500 to get it in.
3) ***** out (sort of). Crate short block 383, all forged, with I-beam con rods. Dart top end kit with aluminum heads (215 cc. int, 64cc comb cham. 195# seat press., 2.05/1.60, .690 max lift) Solid cam, roller rockers, 850 cfm carb, etc....This will cost alot more. Im guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of $7k.

Im driving the car everyday to work, and around town. Work is around 5 miles, oneway, and the car rarely sees more than 25-30 miles at a time. Its just an Lo3 car now, with a 700r. Future plans call for a 12 bolt, and either a beefier 700r, or a 400 tranny. I could literally get one of the first two engines in, by summer of next year. But, im a glutton for power, and really want a forged block, so I can spray the hell out of it someday. The car is a daily driver, for now, but wont be forever. My wife just wants me to pick one, and go with it, even if it means taking 3 years to buy the parts to build it. Id prefer to build the last one, because with all the searching Ive done, this engine could make close to 480 hp, with pump gas. And it would be a 4 bolt forged bottom end, ready for a big shot of nitrous. But, I would be stuck with the wheezer 305 for another couple years, and its starting to blow blue smoke on startup.

So, what would you do? Go easy, and hope to be able to go big later? Or just go ***** to the wall now. And please dont nitpick the engines. Im still in the decision stage, and havent worked out all the details. Ill have more indepth questions in a few months, when I start buying parts.

 

The "290 HP" GM motor only makes that on an engine stand. It will make about 210, OR LESS, once it's between fenders.You can fix that for about $30 in parts (valve guide seals, valve cover gaskets) and about 3 hours. Not exactly the stuff that multi-thousand-$$$$ spur-of-the-moment decisions are made out of.

If it's a daily driver, I'd guess the best answer is somewhere in between #1 & #3; and it's not #2.

Rather, it would be more like the #3 long block, except with 200cc heads rather than 215, put a single-plane 4-barrel intake with a TBI adapter on it instead of a carb, and run a 454 TB; and tone down the cam to something the ECM can live with. Something in the mid to high 220s @ .050" of intake duration, and somewhat more exhaust than that. Roller would be better of course. Cams are cheeeeeep and easy to swap in the grand scheme of things, so whenever you get the other $10,000 for all that other stuff that's in thethe couple of coins for a cam will disapppear in the noise. Meanwhile, you'll have something that's (a) powerful, (b) somewhat reasonable on gas, (c) somewhat reliable, and (d) won't require MASSIVE re-tuning.

There's not alot of details to nitpick, so that part is easy.

 

http://speedomotive.com/ps-473-69-ch...er-engine.aspx
This is kinda what Im looking at, but Its a roller cam. And the short block from jegs has a forged crank. Id rather have the forged crank to be honest. And I just dont want an engine thats a monster. I had a VW (dont laugh) that had a big stroker motor, and it was a PITA. Drive it for 3 days, and tune it for 4. I know VWs and chevies are way different, but its a daily driver. The engine from speedomotive is supposedly a street engine, but it has 11:1 compression, with iron heads. I just dont want to regret buying an engine thats too much for the street, or regret settling for a wimpy engine either.

 

To be honest....with the amount of LSx based swaps, you get the best of both. A motor that has excellet HP out of the gate and responds to mods very very well. Combine that with a sturdy 4L60E and a 12 bolt and you will have something that you can still drive to work, and be able to play with it on the weekends at the track.