If you offroaded in your truck to the point were you could use a solid axle swap with 1 tons locked front and rear and all the goodies would you do that or. if you had a machine shop at your disolsal and many people who new a great deal about engine highperformance would you build a 408 and wait and do the one ton swap? witch would you guys pic

 

I would do the axles with your gearing Id think you could just put a supercharger on the 5.3 later and that should be enough for offroading. I think the 408 is overkill in your application.

My .02