300$ 91-318 JY engine with a 400$ roller cam is what I am reving now. runs killer in my 85 stepside 2x truck for 700$
I had already suggested just dropping a magnum 5.2 in, they can be had for dirt cheap, carb intakes are easy to lay hands on and used roller cams are anything from $50-$150 and don't wear out.
Better heads, better cam setup, lower friction rings, win-win all the way around.
I have only had 2 brand new engines at 3500 each...over rated and where nothing but hassle to deal with... granted race engines do not like daily driver duty..
so been doing cheap JY freshin ups and run them as hard as they will go till they give up for daily drivers.
dirt cheap and roller cams are investments for the long run.
