All good points, I like the underhood part! As time goes on you'll be way ahead in the learning curve.

Can it do 4l60E or 700R4? I know it came with manual trans...

The LT1 system is all underhood and would make for a great conversion system if it could be made to run a regular EFI distributor, if you can do it with LS computer it's probably easier. Cheap software, Flash by ALDL port. But there's just not alot of OBDI LT1 available. Only 2 years and all the cars they came in are desirable so not many end up in JY. Then 2 more years OBDII. Where your getting in on ground floor of a system that will become more and more available as time progresses.