After saying all that and have a 400=RWKW UZ on the street....if i started from scratch i'd go LSx no question.
over here its expensive to get an LS, the only modern, cheap v8 is the 1uz, if there was better aftermarket the 1uz would reay take off
http:// www.lextreme.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13651
Take a look at this... As I said getting power out of the 1uz isn't hard if you now how to do it.
yeah your looking at 4.5k+ just for a LS1 engine and box over here.
I'd bet your first born that you have access to more equipment and far more experience then the average diy guy.