[flatlander757]

Since I just ticked in at 194,500 miles... I really need to start considering a new engine. It is my daily driver that I need to get to school and work, so a rebuild I believe would be out of the question. I am working at Sonic making $6/hr right now, but should hopefully be working at a car dealership for my internship at the votech school im going to this year(and next) making $7+ an hour so saving money is a concern. I figured if I do as much work myself as possible, that could save quite a bit. This is a project I'd like to have finished by spring break, or at latest, next summer.

I think my main obstacle is where this will be done, my garage. My dad is a woodworker and there is always sawdust in there... I doubt that is a good thing if I will be building an engine in there, but it may need to suffice. I could cover it whenever I'm not working on it to hopefully prevent any crud from getting inside.

My goals with this engine I plan to build are:
-355ci(maybe 383... depends on how many supporting mods I'd have to do)
-11:1 compression (don't plan on anything but NA)
-probably an LE2(maybe LE3) head package w/ a cam that will produce good power(375+) but still be relatively fuel efficient
-and will aim to keep the budget below $3000 for everything, including labor to get it installed and dyno tuned, seeing as I don't have a lift or the means to put the engine in from underneath.

I'm only 17 and don't know a whole lot aside from the general workings of a pushrod engine, but hope to get some knowledge out of the votech program I'll be in... do you think this is a reasonable feat I can undertake?