[Bulldog68]

I definitely like the idea of a LS pullout (or crate, if it can be purchased cheap enough), which should be getting cheaper with the release of the more recent LS2 and LS3s. Set a goal of making power near that of the LS364/440 for less than what that crate costs (about $5k).

My preference for the story would be to see a simple carb'd setup on a common (cheaper) LS engine to display the ease of installation. Throw it in an old Nova, Camaro, or Chevelle and show the conversion pieces that would be needed to get it working. Only cover the minimum required parts for simplicity and low cost. Don't complicate the story with head mods and cams until the basic install is done, the car runs, and a baseline is established. A follow-up story could cover upgrades to the existing package, including bolt-ons such as heads, a new intake, new coil packs, or whatever has been found to be most effective on a basic LS engine.

The main point here is to keep the initial cost of the basic conversion low, establishing interest for the hesitant enthusiasts who don't know how easy it is to replace that old SBC with a more modern, reliable, better-performing LS engine. After that's established, efforts towards more power (on a budget) could be addressed in the second part of the buildup.