Welcome aboard,as previously said , 'to the best fgf board'....you might also want to sign up for the L list web page , its very active, if you can handle the 'extra' time...two ways to use the 'list', one is to have it set as regualr email, you get a message every time one is sent out, personnally I like the "digest", I get one page or two /day, usually ev. morning... a few people are on both , most are on one OR the other ,so for more info, use both!
in our 'local' group we have mostly Pontiac engines ,but one or two with Chevy`s too, chevys cheaper to build , BUT if you change out , its more because of all the extra stuff you`ll need for the switch ,and the car definitely will be worth less... I`m not an originality buff myself ,but prefer to keep it as close as possible to original...with my own variations