Bought an LS for my 2010 Nordic Evo & debating tackling it myself or not.
I've pulled a couple engines, did gimbal ring repair myself, but I'm admittedly an 80%'er
I'm really good at taking stuff apart & not always 100% at putting it back together in a timely fashion:-D
Its running now and it's a mid-60's boat, but I know the hull is good for more. Got new engine in lieu of whipple.
Only pisser is my CMI's won't fit the newer LS exhaust ports...new engine has exhaust though

If I dive into this myself what tips do you guys have for me?

Its actually not bad at all. I did the swap myself (am actually dropping the motor back in this afternoon) and its easier than you would think, as long as you have the right parts. If you want, I'll PM you my number and I can walk you through everything I went through getting mine up and running.

Over a year later and here's where I'm at; I sold & finally pulled my old engine last fall.
(Then got too busy with kids, work and snowmobiling to touch this project all winter.)
Started to get serious in March / April and ordered new parts from Marine Power in LA.
Well it's been a run of problems and now I'm boat-less in the middle of summer

Marine Power sent me my new oil pan & bell-housing, but neglected to tell me I'd also need a new starter & raw water pump. Those parts were ordered twice and I STILL have not received them!

Figured I'd drop the engine in and add those things after the fact even though it'd be much easier doing it before - I need to make progress.
Well the next issue was LS crank / flexplate bolts are an unheard of 11mm-1.5 thread size.
So I'm also waiting for those parts to show up so I can move forward with this.

Sounds like all my projects. I always have the best plan and it never ends up going that way.

More thorough research to get the correct parts is most of the battle. Corey331 offered his help as he's been there done that in this LS into a boat scenario.

I have done a few swaps now, including the one in my boat (twin turbo 5.3ls). Motor mounting is easy, manifolds are easy as well, can get spendy depending on what you want. Cheap is 600 expensive is a few grand. I would stick with Efi as there is a lot to gain there. I went with Holley HP Efi little more expensive but its nice and simple to use. Bell housing bolts up the same as any BBC, or SBC. Depending on what drive you will need a sea water pump. I'm about a month away about offering a lower cost sea water pump that mounts in place of the factory Ac.

Have a few video's of it up.