First find a reputable machine shop in your area. He can price out a short block for you and you could assemble it from the heads up.

 

Look at modular mustang racing, mod max racing, jdm, and there's more. I would Spend the 800-900 on a decent set of rods, pistons, and rings while you're digging that deep into a 210,000 mile rotation assembly. He's also pushing 35s and lifted

Edit: if your serious, I've got one a 5.4 block, forged crank, used Manley h-beam forged rods, a new motorcraft water pump, and new ford racing oil pump with pickup for sale.
Everything minus the waterpump is priced at $500 for 1 buyer who has been picking around it.
In my opinion, that is a fantastic deal because those same rods new cost more than $500

 

What are your plans? Do you want a lot of work or do you just want to get it running again?

I blew head gaskets 40k miles ago and I never pulled the block. It took a few weeks in between work and my other stuff but it was very difficult, just time consuming.

 

For now, I just want to have a reliable engine and with a bit more power than stock. I'm regearing in the summer. Having an engine with this many miles I knew something was going to give, I just want to make this a one time thing, replace what I need to now so I can go another 100k easy without having to worry about the engine.

 

If you want more power, you should just pull the whole thing and rebuild it from the bottom. Probably be a few months before its all done if you have never rebuilt one before with shipping parts, researching how to put it together, etc.

If you just want it to be fixed, you could just pull the heads and replace the gaskets without actually pulling the motor. This could take you 3-5 days having never done anything like it before.

Having said that, you still want to rebuild it with slightly more power?

I would suggest just fixing the head gaskets and being done. Unless you plan on a lightning swap its really not gonna be worth it to tear apart the whole engine unless you really want to do it to say you have a fresh engine. I know you've thought about selling your truck before so keep that in mind when dumping money into it.

 

So it's not necessary to pull the engine out? If I can just replace the gasket without removing it would make it so much easier on me. I just need it to last another year till I finish college so I can really build it like i want. I already have too much in it too let it go. I will be learning what I can till then.

My exhaust manifolds are shot. Besides sound, would I notice any change running LT headers without a custom tune?

 

if it only has to last a year then just put head gaskets and manifold gaskets and save your money for a build

 

Yup just do this.

Everything you need you can get at your local parts store. Advanced auto or o Reilly or whatever.

Replacement parts worth considering...
Intake gaskets
Exhaust gaskets (you have a leak)
Spark plugs
Timing chain guides
Timing chain tensioners
Lash adjusters
Water pump
Oil pump

And possibly a few more things I'm forgetting.

 

I must have missed the only needing a yr of service out of it...disregard my previous statements

 

If I were doing a repair to last a year I wouldn't include the timing components, lash adjusters, or oil pump. You're going to want to that when you do a complete rebuild. I'd just get a head gasket, new exhaust studs & call it a day.