I've just decided to drop the idea of SBC crate motor and instead go with a LS motor for my 1967 1/2t 2wd GMC pickup project. It looks like there are a few 4.8l motor/5 speed combo's from early 2000s chevy trucks - but they aren't easy to find, plus I'd rather have a 5.3.

It looks like 5.3 with auto trans is pretty easy to find. Are the newer auto trans "drive by wire", meaning I don't need a column shifter, just something like a push button that would tell the trans to shift? My truck is a 4 speed, so I don't have a shifter on the column.

I'm thinking that if an auto trans is an easy install, I'll look for wrecked chevy truck with 5.3ls motor and auto trans and install that. That still leaves me with the option to install a 5 sp (nv3500 or nv4500) down the road.

Thanks for any advice!