Hi everyone, I picked up my 87 aerocoupe from a friends back yard a few months ago, and put new battery belts etc on it. Long story short the engine is seized and I'm looking for a 350 4 bolt for it. I found a 350 vortec block, and was wondering if there was any difference between the regular block and the vortec block. Can I just buy regular 350 parts for the vortec or do I have to specifically look for say aftermarket vortec heads. Thanks everyone!
350 vortec swap in my monte carlo aerocoupe
- Thread starter bendaggs
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Vortec is really about the heads. The Gen 1 SBC blocks are pretty much the same post-'86 except for LT-4. Pay attention if you plan to use a carb and mechanical fuel pump - the pushrod hole is generally not drilled on the EFI engines.
Vortec heads have a different intake manifold bolt pattern, not interchageable with legacy. Only four to a side and at the extreme ends of the head. That said, they flow almost as well as the much-desired 'fuelie' heads from the 60s. See the 'sawtooth' pattern on the end of the head? that's a Vortec marking.
So you only have the block ? 96 and newer will not have a spot for the fuel pump. 94-95 are a hit and miss if they had the allowance for a mechanical pump. Also the camshaft and lifters in a vortec block are for a roller valve train.
The block is the same from '87-'02 (?), with the pedestals for the lifter guide retainer 'spider' and the 'figure-8' guides. The one in my picture was from a crate engine I got cheap from a friend who spun a bearing. It happened to be drilled for the fuel pump.
A true Vortec with a carb intake is a solid runner. They have a lot of upgrades over a "traditional" 350. Just be aware of what you're looking at. LOTS of sellers will call any 350 with center bolt valve covers a Vortec. Often they're just TBI longblocks. Not the same.
All EFI, yes. Carbs ended in about 1989, I think, except for medium-duty trucks. The 'K' motor was TBI 87-95, and had the TB unit on the intake manfold where the carb used to be. The 'R' motor 96-02 had a different injection system that was under the the intake manifold. Looked like a spider. Only the 96 and later are 'Vortec' with the good heads. The 'K' motors had heads on the crappier end of the scale.
Main things to look for is 4 vertical intake bolts on each head and the roller cam. SSN's photos are great guides. Aerocoupes were TBI, correct? You can get TBI intakes for Vortec heads or do a carb conversion.
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