Colorado?? Last week??? Your's isn't red with a sticker that says- "I go where I'm towed" is it? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Anyhow--Welcome.
As has been told, the most common option is to keep the 2.6 setup, and go with the turbo. That's what mine is, and it ran great at the high altitudes in Co. It is a bolt in by using the fuel injection system and block out of a Mitsu Starion or Chrysler Conquest. There have been a few who have turboed the monty block, yet there are reasons not to, without some machine work first. The Vortec V6 is a neat option, yet alot of work. As for the V8, The general consensus is that there isn't enough length for the SBC which is the shortest of the americans. There is talk about the aluminum Rover V8, but nothing yet. A V8 would likely require alot of cutting and extending the entire front of the body. There is a Gen2 with a V8 swap, and rumor of a raider, but that it was converted to 2wd due to lack of space.
As for the factory V6, The turbo 4 actually makes bettter torque and HP, and is a direct bolt in since it uses the same block.