Suggestions/Ideas please!!

[CamVD]

Okay, im not gonna lie and say i know what im doing, because i am pretty new to all of this stuff. Lets see, so far ive only put a 6" lift on my 87 k5 and got 35s on it. Everything else is stock, cept for the 4.10s my buddy put in my 10 bolts for me. (Yes, i still am running 10b's). I have had the blazer for about half a year now, and am planning a rebuild in the near future. Its still got the 305 in it too, so yeah...
I really want to put a 454 or other bb in it, and hopefully find a cheap used one this fall and rebuild it during the winter. I am thinking a sm456 tranny, as i want a manual, and ive heard those are built like a tank. Eventually i want to find a nice set of 1 tons and dont know which gears yet, prob 4.56s. Lets see, rollcage(any good ideas? build my own, or buy a pre-fabed one?) Also thinking doing a 4 link in the front eventually. I also want to do a semi-restore of it, tear it down and de-rust (no, im not an idiot, and i know ill find more rust than i know what to do with, im ready for it) What else...I want to at least do the engine rebuild and maybe tranny this winter, as i am going to get married next summer, so before i have a nagging wife in my a$$ everynight, i want to get some stuff out of the way. Just looking for suggestions on some of the ideas i got, and wondering if everything sounds good. Its mainly going to be an offroad rig, ocasionally being used on road, and possibly on the highway. Thanks gents!

 

[blazinzuk]

IMHO skip the big block get a 6.0 plenty of power, fuel injection, dead reliable.

Not sure what you have to do to mate them to a manual trans. But I am sure stuff is out there

Depending on money consider an nv 4500 they have over drive, but the 465 will work just dandy if you choose your gearing considering.

Other than that get the drivetrain done, then start body work, then start with suspension stuff

 

[CamVD]

Yeah im not dead set on an engine yet, thats why im getting some 3rd party opinions. I just wish i could start the build already, but money and time just aint there yet...

 

[454Sub]

Im happy with my 454, and my brother is happy with his 6.0, and we have basically similar trucks. Mines has way more torque, but his is way smoother and the newer multiport is much better compared to my TBI. Either option is a great way to go IMO. Personally iv never been a 465 fan, going the 6.0 route i would pick up a newer 5 speed, honestly i would take the 5speed over the 465 any day of any week, but that's just me. As big as these ideas are, you could also get a 350/465/? and run that for awhile and enjoy it, you can keep the K5 as long as you want and you will have plenty of time to do it in the future. To be really honest, i now have a 90 Sub with a 454, 40in boggers, and a bunch of other stuff, and still I had way more fun in my 85 1/2 ton Silverado with 35 BFG mud terrains, with 4.10s, a posi rear, a warmed over 350 and a 700r4. Just food for thought.

 

[CamVD]

Yeah true...im still debating on the trans...and not dead set on a bb, just something thats got enough torque, and i know i can fix up a 350 to be really decent.But at the same time I want to work on it the next few years and not have to do any big changes to it in the future, ie engine/trans/axle swap.