Glad you keep your priorities in line, our trucks/toys are secondary to every day life. Hope things are doing better.
For the motor, you could do the budget 5.7L iron block build. Find a used 5.3/4.8 motor, gut it, bore it out, and find someone who went stroker. I have seen stock rotating assemblies for less than $150, even some for free just to clear some garage space. With machine shop costs, bearings, gaskets, and some personal time you could do it for under $1000. Then slap on some nice heads and that current cam and hit the d'strip ( my original intention but the Eagle 4" kit was too tempting ).

 

I've got a 6.0 block at the shop now. One day, when he gets around to it, it'll be bored out 4.020, and sent over to another guy to plate bore it to 4.030. If nothing else, it will have a stock R/A, but I hope to have a 4" crank and some sweet rods in there. Of course some high compression lightened pistons too.

 

I agree with ya Flyer. I think the 5.3 has a lot more potential that a lot of people give it credit for. Sure it takes a bit more time & money to get the same results as a drop in 6.0, but the Oh **** factor to me is worth it. I'm interested in seeing what you eventually wind up with in this thing. I do agree that at least a 3600-3800 converter will greatly improve your times. As I said in the other thread, that 3000 is light for that cam. What gear ratio you running?

Like I said though, keep us posted on how she comes along. I am hoping to plan a very similar project in the next year or so. I am wanting to cam the 5.3 with a large bumpstick, not quite as large as the one your running, but it will be in the 228/232 range. So maybe I can take some pointers off of your build here.

Good luck with it though, Bitch sounds mean.