Hey Slow Iroc, check out this board.... www.hybridz.org These guys do the datsun Z-car with a small block swap, neat stuff, quite a few guys in the 12's with relatively cheap small blocks...then again, the cars weight less than 3000 lbs in stock trim...there's a company that makes a small block swap kit, jags that run, they also do volvo, s-10, and of course, jags! Pretty interesting stuff, and most of the guys on that board are VERY informative, and extremely nice

 

I would go with the s10, but I'm just saying that because I plan to put the stock 350 (L98 I hope) from my next 3rd gen into a 88-93 reg cab s10. The only problem with the s10 is the rear is too light and with all that torque its hard to hook up. A reg cab 88-93 s10 (2x4) shortbed weighs 2600 pounds. I plan to solve the problem by bagging the truck (air adjustable suspension) and putting my air tanks under the bed by the tailgate (where the spare usually is). I also plan to have a big speaker box in the bed with 4 12" subs under the fiberglass tonneau cover. All that stuff should weight me down in the rear and help me hook the tires up better. The 88-93 s10 are easier to swap in v8's than the 94+ style. In the 94+ styles you need to go through alot of heartache (radiator, ECU, no space), but it has been done. I know a guy with a 97 s10 and a 96 LT1. He's running high 12's all motor and low 12's on the bottle (100 shot). I like the looks of the 94+ style (in fact i own a slammed 97s10 right now) but everyone here on the islands has one and I want to be different ... so im going with the older style. good luck with whatever you decide to build!!

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--- Current Daily Driver ---
Maroon 1989 Camaro RS - Crappy 305 TBI / Auto
Hypertech Stage 2 Chip (and 160/ThermoStat), 2.5" Pipes,
No Cat, Flowmasters (Dual), GT Grant Wheel, 5% Tint all around,
50% on windshield, GTO Blackouts, Fixing rust and painting soon


--- Next Project ---
90-92 Camaro IROC-Z/Z28 - 5.7ltr L98 / Auto
K1 Interior, Suspension (1" drop, new everything), Sounds
(Mp3 Deck, Boston High's, Soundstream amps, JL audio Subs)
Billet Wheels (18x8 front, 18x9.5 rear) Boyd Coddington's,
6 speed swap, LT1 swap, engine internals, turbocharge, SCCA!!!!

 

Vader, I read that but 3,000 isnt realistic when you are starting at around 2550-2600, you dont need that much extra bracing. Good subframe connectors are ~75ish, the underhood bracing adds 6lbs and 14lbs respectively, and from what I hear the shelby underride traction bars work well and those are about 30lbs. Theres probably that much weight lost in rust
Doesnt matter a whole lot anyway, I know he doesnt want a Ford and I still think he should go find a nice 62-65 ChevyII/Nova.