I left it stock! ls2 is alot of torque in a 65/35 weight biased truck. The LS is heavier than the 2.8 I pulled, so it made it worse - and I used an iron block to boot to save $100 or so.

In retrospect, I wish I'd used an Aluminum block. live and learn. I think a 5.3 is down close to 100 pounds of torque, so you could stall it pretty safely, but it don't need a 3500 stall or anything stupid. An early 5.3 - before they started using 243 heads on them - would be a bit less torquey. An LS4 would be helpful also, since it's aluminum, better weight biasing.

 

I used 3.27 gears in my 8.8 rear end with traction bars and drag radials it hooked up good with a stock lm7 th400 set up then went fully built and turbo and still run the same gears and trans 3800 stall and it's not easy I recommend very good shocks I honestly think good suspension makes these trucks more fun to drive than horsepower u cant get to the ground make it hook and it will make u **** yourself

 

Oh you swapped a first gen. Those trucks are super light! I'm planning on swapping an '03 ext cab, I'll be swapping in ZQ8 suspension, adding Caltracs, and putting in some wide rubber in the back. The stall will have to be very conservative so it can be a DD.