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From: All great change begins at the dinner table Ronald Reagan
FD2BLK is right, not much gain in going to an LT1 for the cost.
However, it'll tune better than an L98 ECM (LT1/LT4 has: ODBI & ODBII, depending on year). If you shop around some deals can be had, no matter what you decide. Make a plan & budget, then stick with it. You'll get the vette built & running, won't tie up the rack with down time as you mentioned.