Old school 350 or Vortec 350
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 8,017
Likes: 2
From: The problem is all inside your head she said to me.
Old school 350 or Vortec 350
I'm rebuilding my car and currently have a 1970 010 short block in good condition. I was going to put vortec heads on it and some of the more modern rams head exhaust manifolds. I'm de tuning the car. had small blower and headers. Just want an 325-350 horse engine. Local Craigs list add for a 96-98 tahoe engines. From government vechicles all under 70k. I know from working at NASA that they all get run around short distances and left ideling. Anyway he has a long block roller cam for $650
I need to look at it before anything serious. What are the chances this engine is in good condition. I mean not needing bored or new heads? Shop work is expensive and a pain in the *** around here. I guess I'm asking what is typical life span before major work or your experience with similar engines.
Other option is to put new vortec heads on existing block
Thanks.
I need to look at it before anything serious. What are the chances this engine is in good condition. I mean not needing bored or new heads? Shop work is expensive and a pain in the *** around here. I guess I'm asking what is typical life span before major work or your experience with similar engines.
Other option is to put new vortec heads on existing block
Thanks.
Last edited by INMYBLOOD; Sep 18, 2016 at 08:24 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 207
Likes: 23
From: Atlanta, Ga
My dad has a 99 Tahoe with the vortec 350 in it. Bought it brand new, has a little over 210,000 miles on it. Still runs great, uses a little oil but nothing major. I believe the biggest thing is was regular oil changes done on it. Dads Tahoe oil is changed every 5000 miles, and he doesn't even use synthetic. So at 70,000 miles there's no doubt the engine still has life in it. As long as it wasn't run low on oil and spun a bearing causing a rod to knock.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 342
Likes: 15
I would Vortec the current engine for sure. I had a similar dilemma when rebuilding my 86' Monte Carlo SS. Basic 350 motor was there with the old swirl port heads and truck cam...I installed a nice lopey cam with good lift, 1.5 roller rockers, new lifters, Edelbrock intake, Holley carb, Vortec heads, MSD wires n distributor and the car puts out about 325 hp . I think it's perfect for the car. The parts were cheap and I did the labor myself. I also added an X pipe, long tube headers, and Super 44 mufflers to get to that horsepower.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Another option is hold out...trick flow has an aluminum double hump head coming out looks to be a very good performer much moreso than GM vortecs. A roller motor right out the box though is a good thing good early cores have dried up so are the vortecs so grab a good one while you can. I think 6xx is too much for a core (make sure those vortecs arent cracked because they do) follow your gut
