can i upgrade my cam with the stock h.o. heads?

[1984-monte-carlo-ss]

and you have to be sure that it's a gen1 vortec motor, NOT an LS. the LS is a great motor but it takes MUCH more to install it.

how hard is it to install an LS?

 

[megaladon6]

you need specific motor mounts, a trans adapter, a special oil pan, the ECU reprogrammed, 50+psi fuel pressure/electric fuel pump, a special accessory mounting system, a whole lot of wiring, and more stuff that i can't remember.
it's a lot of work and money, but the LS engines are pretty much the gold standard of EFI and electronic ignition. a stock 6.0l with basic reprogramming will put out well over 300hp, probably closer to 400. and that's with great driveability and good MPG (depending on trans and rear gears)

 

[1984-monte-carlo-ss]

what if you carb it? you wont need the ecu programing and everything right?

 

[CHRIS.O]

Probably not your best choice for your first engine swap. A 250hp gen 1 will fulfill all your dreams for a little while. It will feel like a rocket ship compared to your current set up.

 

[megaladon6]

carbing an LS1 has been done but it's ****ing stupid. you still need the computer and all the sensors for the ignition system, and by removing the EFI you lose the instant adjustability. remember, EFI adjusts for environmental conditions many times per second

 

[1984-monte-carlo-ss]

i understand the efi concept which is very smart, one of the reasons why i like it but i was just wondering why people like to carb the lt1's and the ls1's. now what if you carb a 1st gen vortec 350?

 

[CHRIS.O]

Carbing a gen 1 vortec is simple. Pretty much any sbc that someone put vortec heads on is a carbed vortec. There are some differences in the block, I believe a gen 1 vortec doesn't have the mechanical fuel pump boss completely machined into it and I think it used a timing cover with a crank sensor but all that can be switched to the older stuff.

 

[megaladon6]

i was just wondering why people like to carb the lt1's and the ls1's

it's a damn good question! i figure some people are just intimidated by EFI and don't care if they lose power/driveability.
like ^he said, the gen1 vortec blocks don't have the provision for a mechanical fuel pump. other than that the block is the same as a block from the 60's. the timing cover is different, but a regular cover will bolt in.

 

[1984-monte-carlo-ss]

ohhh that makes sense why theres alot of 1st gen vortecs in alot of cars i see around here, so would u need an electrical fuel pump on it? or can you put a mechanical fuel pump

 

[CHRIS.O]

You would need a regular HEI distributor. Regular gen 1 timing cover and an electric fuel pump.