1996 chevy c1500 v-6

I am looking for a new engine for my 1996 Chevy C1500. It has a the same V-6 engine when bought and I'am looking for a good swap for it. I want the horsepower but dont have a lot to spend. I have a budget between $2,000 - $3,000. any suggestions will be great.  

Hmm, usually budgets tend to kill the power numbers. However there are some ways to put a nice inexpensive block into your truck. If you cruise the local junkyards, try to find an old 350 complete engine out of a pickup or motor home (because generally motor home and pickup engines had the 4-bolt mains). Now there are a couple of things you can do to this to achieve your power goal. a 327 will be cheap and fast, but not a very powerfull or drivable engine in a truck. a 350 is probly the best choice, and most likely the cheapest. Have the block machined and honed at least .040 over to correct and oblong cylinders. If it were my engine, I would treat it to a new rotating kit with Hypereuteric alloy pistons ($600), otherwise have the old crank cleaned and magnafluxed as well as the rods. At least put new pistons in the old block, most came with cast alluminum and are prone to failure under higher compression and power loads. Then find some high flow heads (alluminum or cast, $350-$1200) and top it all off with a medium to large cam and intake to suit your heads and compression ratio. For around $2300 plus machining, you could get in the ballpark of 330-380 horse (depending on components). If you want to go the extra boost, top it off with a mild nitrous hit (around 100 shot) and you'll smoke the tires anytime. The third option is a 383 stoker. Now this isn't very practical unless power is your #1 concern, nor is it friendly on the gas pump (4-8 MPG usually), but nothin sounds better than a stroker with a loping cam! For more in depth answers on cam, manifold, and head suggestions, a more exact power goal will be needed. hope it helps.  

Yeah, you can get about a gazillion different variations of 350 crate motors from mild to wild, short block, long block, injected, carbureted, you name it. For about $3k, you should be able to find something. For that price, it probably won't be a power monster, but it would definitely be an upgrade from the V-6.