Anyone want to talk Chevy! LOL

Honestly considering the big picture I'd just clean up what he's got and let him think a bit. Nobody is really wasting much time with SBC's since the LS's came out. You can get a junkyard LS with an overdrive and all necessary paraphernalia for under a grand. You'll get minimum 300hp, 25mpg, a huge weight savings, claw hammer reliability, and massive future potential.