Are the Vortec Heads that were on the 96-99 350 the same as the Vortec Heads on the 2000 5.3, reason I ask is my buddy has a 2000 Silverado 5.3 Vortec and it HAULS A$$. It's rated at 275 hp, thats decent out of that 5.3. Infact I believe Motor Trend rated 0-60 in under 8 seconds, it keeps up with my stock LO3 5 speed! If these are good Vortecs, we should be able to bolt them on with less milling, if any. Anyone know anything about these?

I'm not sure but I think that these motors are the newer versions like the LS1 engines are and they won't bolt on.

99+ 5.3L Vortec V8 is totaly different than our engine. It is a smaller verison of the LS1 with an iron block and aluminum heads. NOTHING swaps over to Gen1 thirdgen enignes. or Gen2 LT1/LT4/L99 engines.

They did something right with the 5.3L vortec motor. It's got the same bore as the 305 but a longer stroke. It makes about the same hp as a 305 stroked with good heads and a normal cam. I don't like making more hp with stroke, I'd rather do it with bore but every bit helps. It's hard to explain but the vortec motors with a longer stroke make GOBS of torque down low. The longer the stroke the more reliable the vacuum the piston produces to bring in fresh air. It's a great truck motor and drag motor but isn't exactly a "fun" motor. Can't play with high revs.
I wonder how hard it would be to transplant the 5.3 into an f-body. I'd rather do the new inline vortec motor transplant. DOHC inline 6 making 270+hp, that's just cool.
I can't wait till I get out of school, make some money, get another thirdgen and play engine swap games.
I have so many ideas but no money, .
Yeah, newer heads don't bolt onto the older style blocks. It's funny but the trucks didn't change the blocks over to the Lt1 (gen 2) ever! They skipped that engine and went right into the newer stuff. Good for me because the vortec heads from 96+ bolt right onto the older blocks , also means they'll have replacement parts for a while!

" I have so many ideas but no money"

Man I hear ya there. I haven't even scraped together the $$ for headers yet and I've had the car almost a year. Soon though. My insurance is just killer ($1075/6 mos.) and I only work part time like 16-20 hrs a week. Oh well, gotta let school be a priority. I keep telling myself "Gotta finish and get my degree. The money will come in time"

OK anyway back on topic, yeah the new truck engine is basically a truck version of the LS1 as far as I know, so the head swap would be a no go. A freind of mine has a 98 1/2 ton 4X4 5 speed that I think has that engine. And no doubt the thing is faster than my car. Heck it'd probably give his 95 mustang GT auto a run. We were thinking how cool that engine would be in my car one day on a long trip. But I'm sure it'd be a tough swap, probably about the same as putting in an LS1. Not to mention far from cost effective. But I did see one of those engines in the local ads for like $1200. No computer or harness though.