How much modding is required to be able to put a vortec engine in my 1989 Camaro? The vortec would be from a 1996 or newer truck..... is it very hard? what exactly is required to swap it in? Or am i better off going with a TBI engine off the early 90's trucks and modding it a little bit?

 

to make it easier (if you have the TBI in there already) just put on vortec heads. If you are doing a complete swap then you will need the motor, all the sensors and the computer with harness. so basically everything.

 

will the 700r4 bolt up to the 96" and newer 350's?

 

The Vortec is a better engine than a truck TBI. However, the Vortec induction system is nothing to brag about.

There's a sticky on the TBI forum about a budget TBI. It uses a Vortec engine. Take a look at that and go from there. I would NOT put the whole Vortec engine and induction system in your car, the sticky documents a much better approach.

Your TH700 will bolt up to a Vortec engine with no problems. The shortblock is basically identical to the L98 shortblock (and LO5 shortblock).

 

soi maybe a better approach would be to buy a TBI 350 and put Vortec parts on it?

 

Okay, let's approach this from a different direction:

Truck TBI 350:
LO5, swirlport heads (maxed out with what the factory did with them - unless you're **** and go to great lengths to improve them), one-piece rear main seal crank & block, roller lifter block casting but rarely machined for the roller equipment, often 4-bolt mains (not a big deal one way or the other). The TBI injectors are slightly larger than the 305 LO3 injectors, and therefore in the end better to use with a TBI 350.

Truck Vortec 350:
L31, some very nice flowing heads with well-designed combustion chambers, poor valve springs from the factory, lift-limited without machine shop modifications. Factory roller cam/lifters, one-piece rear main seal crank and block, 4-bolt mains. Induction/injection system is pretty weird, not advisable for use in a performance applications.

The Vortec longblock is what you're after - very nice heads, roller lifters. Now, what to do for induction? The TBI forum "Budget 350" sticky covers that. You'll probably use some LO5 pieces, but that doesn't justify buying a complete LO5. This approach will have more power than either the LO5 or Vortec in stock form, while being much more amenable to "modding it a little bit". Understand that if you're planning on a cam change, plan on new valve springs at the very least, and even better pulling the heads to have the guides and spring pockets cut (single operation if the shop knows what they're doing) for better springs and more valve lift capability.

I hope that helps clarify things a little.

By the way, when you go to the junkyard, don't say, "I want a Vortec engine." Say you're looking for a 350 from a '96-'99 light truck.

 

Better yet, ask for a 2000-2002 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana 350 R Vin code.