Need some input on engine choice

I'm going to start shopping around for an engine this spring/summer to work on building over the next winter, ideally I want something simple to swap in and I don't need anything crazy like 800hp lol 300hp or so would be fine for now. In order of ease of installation I'm considering

FE3 + turbo (not a lot of aftermarket at all)
ford/chevy small block (horrible fuel economy?)
gm 5.3 (ls based engine)
even kicked around a ka24 or the famous rb

Part of me wants a v8 I never owned one but I'm worried about mpg I dont want to be filling up every other day, maybe its not as bad as I think it is?

V8? toyota/lexus good torque, good hp, good mpg, has been done before so there's plenty of tech for em.

FE3, YEY! you don't need A/M parts for 300 hp.

Small block... why have MORE weight in the front? meh...
LS.... even MORE weight!
ka24/rb... just go FE3 or the sr20det (though not as strong as FE3/rb/ka it fits better than the 6's and it has HEAPS of A/M parts, you don't have to make anything if you don't want too)

My vote, fe3/toyota v8.

YEY! More engine swaps!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!

Toyota V8s here compared to the GM counterparts aren't all that great. Equally piss poor mileage and more expensive parts on their stock platforms. I'd go FE3 or small block chevy/ford. In a lightweight truck they have the potential for decent mileage, and the FE3 is much easier on installation. Most of the install will be bolt-on with minor/med modifications needed for the accessories.

GM Vortech 4.3l tons of parts, decent gas mileage, good power to weight, and not a super tight fit in the engine comp. This is what I would do if I had the funds.

I found a site to buy the real deal fe3 jdm engine worth spending the extra cash or just grab one from a kia?

+1 to the 4.3 plenty of power... plenty of room...i did this swap, was very happy with it.

I might consider that as well the 4.3 is basically a small block chevy with 2 cylinder shaved off. A buddy of mine has one in his s-10 and its been pretty reliable and cheap to buy one too

Hmmm.... I want to say JDM then we can have the same thing and I'll drink to that.
But... the Kia is already facing the right way... will have lower compression (as in not 10:1 should the jdm be 10:1) has more write ups in the US than FE-DOHC's... If I were finished mine I could tell you definitively. I think just choose the one in better condition, it doesn't matter too much

1 plus about the FE3 is a kia sportage would be easy to find in junkyards around here and they only charge $120 for a complete engine. Cheapest I could find a real jdm fe3 was around $1000 shipped then I still have to break it all down and rebuild.

$1000 (?!?!) vs $120... hmmm....
I'm pretty good at maths... I think I know the answer to this equation!
Thanks Greg, that's 8 for FE3 (what, everyone knows Greg counts for 7 votes)