well my cuzin had picked a 98 vortec 350 long block with nothing really wrong with it other than head gaskets that need to be replaced. we pulled the heads off the motor and gave them a look over and all looks good from what we can see but we are goin to send them out to a machine shop just to make sure all is good and just deck the heads to be good, but while its there he is looking to doin some upgrades to the heads. this is what we had come up with.

do a 3 angle valve grind
machine valve guides.
upgrade the valve springs (SDPC sd1005 says good for .600" lift)
lt4 hot cam with 1.6 roller rockers.
screw in studs
replace all rod and main bearings
change the plastic timing cover for a steel cover.
Rpm air gap intake
650 holley dbl pumper.

there is probley some room to change a few things so we like to hear what you all have to say.

thanks.

 

That all sounds good, except for changing the rod/main bearings. If you have no reason to think there is a NEED to change them, just leave them alone. The connecting rods in those engines were the same as the LT1 used, and the bolts in those rods were a 1 time use deal. If you take them apart, you have to replace the bolts/nuts, which means taking the whole bottom end of the engine apart.

 

I'd do the rod/main bearings, and if the engine was out and down, anyway, the cam bearings.

I've seen enough of that era engines having bearing failures that I wouldn't chance it.

 

well hes goin to replacing the bearings any ways to be on the safe side the truck it came out of had 130kms but i think the motor had been replaced once before cause it was so clean, its just a peace of mind i guess.

 

Did you use the fuel system? I love these in the trucks. I installed one with a street and performance harness in a 1985 surburban. worked really good used the 4l60e. I was curious how much horsepower could be made by the stock injectors we have installed the multiport conversion that does a great upgrade. I now the all the accesories will bolt right back in place. I figured that a gm lt1 hot cam and a set of shorty headers would be good for 300 easily.

 

no we didnt use the truck fuel system it was a core block that the guy replaced cause the head gasket went on the motor so he put a new one in his truck, were putting a air gap intake on this motor with a 650 holley, he may go aftermarket efi down the road, with a few upgrades and head work he should be close to 400 hp which is his goal.