TheMonster

Alright my cousin has a 350 Vortec engine out of a '97 Tahoe.

In my '83 Camaro: I have a 350 bored over(I will refer to the 355 for now on) engine from a '78 Truck. I have stock heads on the 355.

I know that both the Vortec and later models are both GenI blocks. But I have a few questions. What I am wanting to do is get the Vortec heads and intake and put them on the 355 block. Which from what I researched I am able to do. But can I take the weiand intake and stock truck heads and put on the Vortec engine?

So basically swapping the Vortec heads and intake from the vortec engine, and putting them on the 355, and taking the truck intake and heads and putting them on the Vortec block?

I have general knowledge on GenI blocks and have read a little bit of info on LT1 and LS1 engines, but I don't know a whole lot about the Vortec engines, except that the vortec heads flow well, and are popular to put on GenI blocks.

Thanks for any information!

Atilla the Fun

Yes, the old heads can go on the newer block, but why keep the old block? Get the complete Vortec engine, that way you get the roller lifters. That trumps any advantage you may think your 355 may have.

TheMonster

The vortec engine has >100k miles while my '78 engine has 7k since rebuild.

Would this be a bad idea anyway? Should I just stick with stock heads? Would I need to rebuild the heads? and how long could I go with the vortec heads til rebuild?

I'm thinking of staying with the stock heads for now until early next year.

Atilla the Fun

But Vortecs were injected, not carbureted, so no real bore wear. They also used roller lifters and roller timing chains. Because of these 3 factors, there is seldom any bearing wear.
Just use the whole Vortec 350.

TheMonster

I think I might go without then, I can't really use the whole engine, and my '78 engine in my '83 camaro only has 7k miles since the rebuild. And I need an engine to put in the '90 to sell.

Atilla the Fun

So do the wise thing and put the crappy 355 in the '90.

Doom86

What about a carb setup causes more bore ware? Is it the excessive amounts of fuel?

I've been thinking about selling my 010 4 bolt main 350 block and buying a roller block. My reasoning was just because it more efficiently makes power but knowing other merits is nice too.

Atilla the Fun

Yeah, basically. What else would you give credit for the fact that carbureted SBCs needed a 0.030" overbore every 100,000 miles, but MPEFI versions can go well more than double that mileage and still have the original honing cross-hatch fully visible? It's not better iron. The newer rings aren't that much thinner, they're mostly just metric, and the tension isn't low. Coolant temp makes some difference, but even all these other factors combined don't make anywhere near that much difference.

TheMonster

??? Because the 355 is reliable and its in my daily driver, I am 17 and don't have a ton of money to spend on the Vortec engine atm. I am still trying to get my daily driver as nice as I would like it. The Vortec has 117k miles on it vs 7k on the 355. It would make sense to just keep it how it is, and do engine work (if any) later on. I am just trying to fix up the '90 to sell and make a bit of profit on.

Atilla the Fun

You're still hung up on the mileage. The cost difference is only an intake manifold. NO more than $300. That's it. Awfully cheap price to pay for another 40+ horses. But maybe you're scared of the power. That's okay too, but you'll forever wonder what-if? What if you had done it? And when you finally do taste decent power, then you'll really start kicking yourself.
I know from experience you're on the verge of making a mistake. Notice how noone is disagreeing with me? That should also tell you something.
It's your choice, but don't say you weren't told.

SSC

I guess im reading this right but might not be.

For the 350 in your 90 if you strip off the vortec heads will you need to pull those heads off the 355 to put on the engine thats going in the 90 or do you have another set of heads for the 90?

If your going to pull apart 2 engines and swap parts to make 2 engines you would be better off putting the higher mileage engine in your 83 as is.

I would leave the 355 alone since it runs at this moment in time get a set of heads that your can put on the vortec for the 90 then make a vortec head swap a future plan for the 355.

TheMonster

I am definitely not scared of the power, I want to put 3.73 gears in it soon. The thing is, is that I am only on such a small budget because I am wanting to paint my '83 soon. Also it is my daily driver, and I am hoping to build up another car and keep the '83 in the shape it is now.

Would it be better to just put the vortec engine in the '90 and sell it, and get vortec heads for the '83 later this winter?

I feel like I am fighting a brick wall here with you guys, why would a 117k vortec engine be better than a 7k 350 in the long run? The 350 has roller rockers, which can't go on the vortec. All I would have to buy is an intake and some rocker arm covers..but the mileage is a huge difference. The 355 I have in my '83 is running fine, and I don't really want to get a huge amount of horsepower out of it. But the vortec heads flow a lot better than stock heads, but they have 117k miles on them, how much longer until I have to rebuild the heads and engine?? I just don't think this is feasible. I am not trying to build a drag car here, just a DD.

SSC

All I was getting at is dont tear apart your DD just to add a possible 40hp its not worth your time, effort or limited budget. Just slap the 350 in the 90 and sell it. Leave your car alone until later down the road. You can buy new vortec heads cheap at another time and upgrade if you want.

TheMonster

Thats exactly want I am thinking of doing.