tough call. at this point though, id probably just stick with getting it stroked over. i mean whats the point of throwing more money into another donor motor, trans, all that, when in the end youll still want the stroker.
HOWEVER, if the motor job costs more then your willing/wanting to spend, don't. spend it on fxing current probelms and getting that donor powertrain. again though your always going to come back around to the stroker in the end..... plus your in TN, pull a parts are cheap as hell to get parts from