Hey guys,

I've searched many boards and for the most part it seems vortec 350 are straight part swaps from other 87+ roller block 350s.

The reason I ask is because I blew up my LO5 350 and am looking for a new short block. I have non-vortec heads etc etc, and that will all be fine to swap over. I'm just wondering is there ANYTHING else on a 1997 vortec 350 that I should know about being different from my '92 gen1 LO5?

Does the timing chain and cover and balancer all swap over? I've read some people say that they cannot. I just plan to swap my cam, timing equipment, balancer, etc, and AFR 195 heads + HSR onto the vortec block. Just making sure it's pretty much a direct swap!

As clarification I'm not asking anything about vortec heads, just about the BLOCK itself.

thanks!

 

shouldnt have any issues with the block itself

 

Why go for a short block? The Vortec heads are what makes it a good engine. Other than the heads it isn't much different than any other '87 up roller engines.

 

ok thanks! I'm going for any 350/355 short block i can find because I've already got AFR 195 heads to throw on it. so I don't need the vortec heads, i know they are pretty good tho

 

Z85, I done this ,if I'm understanding the ? correctly, in a 92 PU with a long blk Vortec. All went fairly smooth, the timing chain cover did not swap from the 92 motor, been a while, last yr. and I'm old, seems, was a different bolt pattern. I just got an old sensor to plug the hole, works fine so far, my computer doesn't have, I think its a cam position sensor, sorry to be so vague, used 92 starter, water pump but was replaced at the time, dist. all but the intake, which as you know being the Vortec heads, I used the GMPP TBI intake, Would probably go carb intake if I done it again, alot cheaper. Hope this is some of the info you were lookin for, again, sorry for being so forgetful on this, It happens, can't see worth a crap anymore either, damn, I don't like gettin old, I use to think 51 was real old, not anymore, Pm, if I can help.

 

haha, thanks for the info squirrel! Getting old sucks indeed