I am putting a 2002 vortec 350 into my 86 irock Just wondering what I should know if i'm missing. As far as i know all i need to change is an intake for vortec heads.

Anything else i should know? What about flexplate? I have a t5 will my old flexplate bold on to the 2002 crank?

 

Your 86 block 'should' have been a one pc rear main. In which case the *flywheel* will bolt right up

 

awesome. Anything else I should know about? Something that might not be so obvious?

 

Another question. Are the vortec 350's flat tappet lifters or roller lifters?

 

Vortecs are all roller lifters. As far as I know it's about as straight of a swap as expected. Search vortec and 305-350 tpi swap threads. Injectors, prom, knock sensor and esc need to be changed but I assume you know this.....if not, do some research on the boards. Tons of answers from lots of projects. All been done before

 

We just did a vortec swap. We swapped a 88 TPI 350 for a create 383 which is basically the same as the L31 vortec 350 with just some internal changes. We used all the brackets, water pump, sensors, and distributor off the TPI to put on the new vortec motor. Everything bottled right up. You will have to use your distributor because the vortec motors use a crank sensor which may get more envolved then you are wanting to do. Anyway you don't need the crank sensor, just use your old distributor and all the wires will plug right back in.

I think about the only place that are still selling the vortec base plates is Scoggin Dickey. I think Edelbrock just stopped making their base plate. You might look in the for sale section here and find a used one. One other thing you will have to do is a Vortec Coolant Bypass. Since the vortec heads don't have internal coolant passages to flow some water before the thermostat opens up. If you don't do some kind of by pass you will get hot spots in the heads and wild temp fluctuations until the motor is fully warmed up. If you google coolant bypass you will see what I'm talking about. There is a couple different ways to do it.

If you need a new chip fastchip.com made one for us and I have been very happy with the chip and the service.

 

If the block is in fact a 2002, it could have metric threads for the bellhousing and engine mounts.

 

If you go with the vortec tpi base you will need to change out the oil pressure sensor elbow, because it hits the drivers side rear runner mount. The china rail hole is metric so you will either have to tap the hole to 1/8npt or have the elbow cut and new threads put on. I had the elbow turned and new threads put on.

Take a look at my build thread listed in my sig to see pics of what I had to do.

 

Did this engine come out of a full-size Express van?

 

I think the only thing that had the 350 in 2002 was the express vans. LD trucks were all ls at that point.

 

yes it came out of a express van

 

By convention it's called a "flywheel", not "flexplate".

As noted, both being 1-piece rear main seal, your flywheel should bolt up. Probably not a bad time to install a new one, though.