Hey Trevor! I think it's great that you're into cars at such a young age, and that you get to do this with your Dad. I would've love to have shared that with my Dad when I was young!
I think a used 5.3 is a great idea. One of the mags this month did a test and made 480 hp w just heads and a cam. They're plentiful and can be picked up really cheap. And since you're planning on going through it with Patch, you can build it stock today and mod it later. Plus you'll be way ahead of us old guys with all that experience you'll gain rigging an LS motor in a first gen.
Keep going buddy and remember we really like pics around here...
