[steven03]

Biggest thing is not to get caught up in "i must have a 6.0" or "must have an aluminum block". Get the most complete engine you can with all the accessories and bits and ends you will need at a good price. most people who end up buying a short block and try to piece a engine together end up spending tons more money as opposed to buying a running pull out engine. They are all great engines and all work well and all make alot more reliable power than any old school sbc we are used to in these trucks- even the little 4.8 ls motor. Yes get a drive by cable engine with the 24x reluctor wheel- this will typically be a lm7. This will keep the easy to tune pcm and will also keep the simplistic engine internals i.e no need to get rid of dod valve train parts and swap intakes to get rid of direct injection etc... Any truck ls engine will make great power bone stock with a shot nitrous or any form of forced induction. plenty of 100 percent bone stock truck engines intake to oil pan out there making 500 plus to the wheels, especially through a stick shift like you plan to do.