Need help, advice, and numbers

First, a little education. Your truck is not a "CK" truck.

If it is a 2WD, it is a C truck. 4WD it is a K truck. Sometime in the 80s, that designation was combined into the "R" truck designation.....then in 88 back the C and K.

That said, if you can turn a wrench, you can build a small block Chevy......and cheap. Regardless of what some Mopar snobs might tell you, they are fine little engines and very capable.