Budget Sledgehammer article in PHR.....

[trapin]

Does anyone know when the Vortech 350 went into the trucks? I know that particular production run was from '88-'98 but I'm not sure when the Vortech 350 made it's appearance. The engine they used in the article was a '98 block. How far back can I go to get the same benefits and features?

I must say...I'm very interested in building this engine, if I can find a good shortblock like they did in the article for around the same amount of money. Although it is a 350, being a Vortech at least makes it unique from all the other 350's out there. I was going to do a crate engine but I used to build engines when I was drag racing and I kinda miss it. Plus I have a friend that owns a cylinder head shop that does work for NASCAR and NHRA. I could probably get him to do some mild porting on those Enginequest heads for a little more power.

This engine with it's horsepower and torque numbers if perfect for a car like mine. I just need to find one. Anyone got any leads? Thanks.

[WS6]

I thought the Vortec 350 with the vortec heads didn't come out until mid 90s? I am referring to the cast iron $400 brand new from GM fully assembled vortec heads and the engine those came on.

[nancejd]

http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm

According to their casting number list, '95 to '00.

[Norwoodx55]

I'm pretty sure they didn't make it into a truck until the '96 model year.

[68sixspeed]

1996 for sure; I bought a '95 and was ticked when the much better motor came out a few months later! As far as I know, the short block was nothing special-- the heads, intake, and change away from TBI made the big gains, but even more gains can be made with a good set of aftermarket heads. -Dan

[trapin]

You know, this sounds like it would be a fun build if (and I'll emphasize "if") you can find one of these Vortech motors. Good luck to you if you can. I combed the internet and called a few of the salvage yards in my area and not one of them had even a block from one of these engines. I don't know how the hell you would do it if there aren't any available.

Guess you'll have to wait another 10 years for some of these trucks to start showing up in the yards. Until then...it's a nice story. But that's all it is for now....a story.

[Damn True]

Ive seen them on a couple of occasions on cragislist. If you are looking you might just start clicking on different cities and keep searching till you find one, then hopefully find a local member to help broker the sale for you.

Willing to help if you'd like.

[nancejd]

I'm pretty sure the article listed the source of the engines. I believe they were $300.

[trapin]

Yeah I checked Craigslist too....nothing. I'll have to look at the article again. I left my PHR at work. Dang it.

[USAZR1]

Those engines are plentiful around here. I have a 97 Vortec 350 longblock sitting in my garage,waiting for me to build it. Just can't make up my mind whether to build a 355" or 385".

[Tiger]

a buddy in Texas has a couple of vortecs, let me know if you are still interested and I'll make him contact you.

[blown69nova]

The Vortech motor came out in 96, the vin code (8th space) is R, the 88-95 code was K. Hope this helps.
Steve

[redss86]

I didn't think there was any difference in the blocks. I thought it was just the heads, and injection/computer. I don't know this for sure, but that was my impression.
Joe

[blown69nova]

I am using a 99 vortech block on my Nova, some of the things I found are the timing chain covers are different and there is no water by-pass hole drilled in the block where the water pump mounts.
These things are not really problems, just differences.
Steve

[JEFFTATE]

The Vortec 5.7 Liter motors were used from '96 to '00.
The "K" motors ('87-'95) were NOT Vortec. And NOT Roller cammed.
The "R" motors ('96-'00) were Vortec. And WERE Roller cammed.
Look for an "R" motor.

[nancejd]

I thought that the covers themselves were different, but the flange portion of the block was the same. I know the ZZ4s came with a composite cover that isn't suppossed to be reusable, but I thought you could swap it with a standard cover.

[JEFFTATE]

Does anybody have a link to or specs for this motor ?
I'm interested in budget builds like this .

[blown69nova]

The "traditional" timing cover has more bolt holes than the composite one on the Vortec motors. I had to have my block drilled and tapped for the tin cover.

[JEFFTATE]

Bought the latest PHR at the news stand.
Article was in there.
Good info.

[myclone]

The Vortec 5.7 Liter motors were used from '96 to '00.
The "K" motors ('87-'95) were NOT Vortec. And NOT Roller cammed.
The "R" motors ('96-'00) were Vortec. And WERE Roller cammed.
Look for an "R" motor.

Just to add to what Jeff said the 87-95 truck motors werent roller blocks but the block stand offs for the roller hold down spider were usually cast into the lifter valley just not drilled/tapped.

Ive rebuilt a bunch of these motors and from what Ive seen the very early one piece rear main truck motors may not have the stand offs cast into the block but the later you get into the production run (~1989-ish and up) the less you see of the blocks that dont have the stand offs and are flat tappet only blocks.

FWIW the last three C/K trucks motors I rebuilt were a 1989, 1992, and 1994 and they have the undrilled stand offs in the lifter valley for the lifter hold down spider.

FWIW II...dont over look these blocks while scrounging in the salvage yards since they usually have minimal wear and are decent blocks if they arent cracked. The 94 model that I mentioned above had 189k miles on it and the most worn bore mic'ed at 4.007" which is pretty much what I normally see. Ive only had to scrap a couple late model blocks and that was because of cracks or a spun main bearing that tore up the main saddle beyond repairable limits.