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Help!! I have a 1968 Corvette roadster, it was a gift from a friend, it currently has a 1996 chevy 383 stroker motor in it. Block codes say its a 1996 to 2000 350 5.7 2/4 bolt main Vortec motor with VVR roller cam system. Ive figured out the ignition system changes and fuel delivery. My question is what bellhousing inspection cover do I use?? Its a 4 speed , don't want dirt getting into the clutch assembly. Can anyone help?? Thanks Buddy"
Buddy, do you know if it has the original transmission and bellhousing from the 1968?
If it does you can order one from one of the many Corvette vendors serving our Corvettes. It should be one of the following...
CLUTCH BELLHOUSING FRONT COVER Years: 1963 - 1972 Paragon Number: 5741 GM Part Number: 354497 Clutch bellhousing front cover. Use w/vehicles having 10.3" O.D. clutch.
1963-68 w/327.
1965 w/396.
1967-69 w/H.D.
1970-72 w/350 and H.D. 4-speed. https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...ont-cover.aspx
CLUTCH BELLHOUSING FRONT COVER Years 1966 - 1974 Paragon Number: 5742 GM Part Number: 3843943 Clutch bellhousing front cover. Use w/vehicles having 11" O.D. clutch, all w/350, 427 and 454, 4-speed exc. H.D. Attach w/1850 bolts. https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...ont-cover.aspx
CLUTCH BELLHOUSING FRONT COVER Years 1975 - 1981 Paragon Number: 5743 GM Part Number: 340252 Clutch bellhousing front cover, all w/4-speed. Attach w/1850 bolts. https://www.paragoncorvette.com/p-35...ont-cover.aspx
Not sure what the motor came out of, it a vortec 5.7 , Its all cast iron, heads and block. Im using the stock 68 bellhousing and the factory 4 speed tranny. The motor didnt come with a distributor, or a starter, so I purchased them for a 1996 chevy 1500 5.7 vortec . Distributor fits perfect, I was confused on which dust shield/inspection cover would fit?
Yes Im using the stock bellhousing and 4 speed tranny , the motor was in the car when it was given to me so I dont know much about it. Im just getting around to putting things back together, bought the correct starter and wasn't sure which cover to purchase.
Thanks Buddy"
I have a 621 bell housing bolted to a big block. It had a factory 4 speed. I believe this is the same bell housing that was used with a small block. Anyway when I put in a new crate motor with a one piece rear main seal I had to enlarge the opening shown in the bottom of your pictures. Here is a link for a cover for a 621. LINK BTW 621 is the last three digits of the part number so you can double check that.
Not sure what the motor came out of, it a vortec 5.7 , Its all cast iron, heads and block. Im using the stock 68 bellhousing and the factory 4 speed tranny. The motor didnt come with a distributor, or a starter, so I purchased them for a 1996 chevy 1500 5.7 vortec . Distributor fits perfect, I was confused on which dust shield/inspection cover would fit?
OK ... got it! NOT an LS
It is RPO code L31 from vehicles which have "R" as eighth character in VIN number. Iron head Vortec is a Great motor!
your V V R reference mystifies me? L31 does have roller lifters and cam.
Are you using a mechanical fuel pump driven from passenger side of block?
Are you using electronic fuel injection? Electric fuel pump?
anyone interested in iron head Vortec 350 5.7L L31 R motor ... here's a 177 page pdf marine industry service manual ... lotsa good pics and specs ... Vortec-specific
The casting numbers are on the back of the block they are 10243880 I found info on line that says its a 5.7 Vortec with roller cam? I was planning on using a electric fuel pump with a holley 650 double pumper. I didnt think the older small block shields would fit on that block?? Im using the stock distributor for the engine with a MSD set to convert. Now that leaves me with no way to use the original tachometer being it was driven off the distributor. ??
Temps in Phila. Pa going up to the 60's this weekend!! Im planning on doing a compression test on the 383 , Like I said the car was a gift from a friend so I don't know much about the motor. The good news is I still have the original 327 in my garage, friend said it was knocking so he replaced it with the 383. Ive had the car since 2013, the headlight switch caught on fire before I got the car destroying the drivers side dash. The speedometer /tach are ok, the transition tubes were melted and the outer clear shields as well. The forum helped me find the replacement headlight plug wiring which was destroyed. So Ive slowly been buying what I need to get her alive again, hopefully I can fire her up before the end of the summer. As soon as I can figure out how to post pics I will post. Thanks for everything peeps!! Buddy"
Buddy
880 is an L31 Vortec roller block ... who knows what's inside it now?
Seems with carb & electric pump you will Not be using L31 computer or any computer. No worry ...
You can get a mechanical Tach-drive HEI distributor on fleabay for under $100. It will run your OE mechanical tach. It's much the same as OE Delco HEI as on C3 from mid-seventies, except it also has a mech tach drive. Coil's in cap. You will Not need an MSD box.
I thought the votec engines had a completely different distributor ? I have a stock chevy HEI distributor, I wasnt aware it would work in the vortec motor. The HEI is massive and only clears the firewall bay 1/8 without the cap on. I think the HEI cap will hit the wiper assembly.
No the plastic transition tube from the round speedometer to the oval shaped clear lens. Both of those had melted, I have replaced both and the 2 clear lens, The drivers side lower dash was also destroyed, took me awhile but I found one used cheap!! I wanted to get some base line data by doing a compression test to see if its worth finishing or rebuild the original 327. I managed to post some pics!!!
I have the original 327 tach drive distributor, It was my understanding that it would not work in a 1996 vortec block?? If it does then that solves my tach problem.
For 150 there is a small cap hei tach drive distributor. Sits a bit high for the chrome shielding. Where in philly area? I am hoping to get a wheelchair van out of the driveway here in jersey this weekend and drag my 75 vert home. Can't get to it in her ex'es yard in garnet valley. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-FEMAL...MAAOSwA-JbdigS
Last edited by derekderek; 03-22-2019 at 08:29 PM.
03-19-2019, 07:48 PM
Bellhousing inspection cover????
