'90 5.7L engine replacement suggestions?

[droptail]

Looking for recommendations on an upgrade replacement mill that is performance orientated. It's a reg cab shortbed 4x4 used primarily on the street and I want strong midrange. Think I can get what I want out of a lighter small block. Any Al head recommendations, and what about a stroker 383? This isn't a deep pocket project. Any source for an LS1, Al block would be fantastic. I will prob. retain TB so the project goes fast, don't want to get into converting to TPI, just a quick swap out over the weekend is what I want. Any sugestions of sources? I want to be able to CA smog this. Also its a 5-speed. Can these trans. hold up, any upgrading?

 

Thanks Guru's

[LS1Steve]

http://www.sdpc2000.com/

 

lots of crate engine choices there. An LS1 is about $6k, so i'd check into a used one. I've seen plenty of wrecked camaros with LS1/6sp combinations selling for $3k or so with like 30-40k mi.

[Tucson_02Silverado]

Look at GMPP's 350HO. It's NICE priced, with warranty and decent HP/TQ for the $$. Add on to that maybe Edelbrock's TBI to SFI conversion kit that is suppose to piggy back your year of ECM. That should get you just about waved by at the exemption center (or whatever CA calls it).

 

If you stay TBI and go 383, you'll need to get a TBI from a 7.4L and make sure it has a quality rebuild to get the leaks out. Same for your existing TBI if you are going to reuse, rebuild it.

[wisconsinz71]

I looked into options for a '92 and most cost effective for the power was buying the goodwrench TBI 350 that belonged in the truck but swapping cams before installing. I had planned on using a Comp or Crane running right around a 218 duration. I've heard of problem with the map sensor if you go to 383 true or not???? I priced a NEW 350 from my local dealer at about 1600.00 with 3yr/50K warranty on it.