Help

[86Chevy350]

I bought this truck and the guy told me it had a 97 vortec 350. I've added pics. This is my first square body truck. I've added some pics of motor. I would like y'alls input.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[86Chevy350]

What do y'all think. And also how do i tell if it's tbi or carburated?

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

That's definitely a top end from a 87 or later motor. I can't see very well what's delivering your fuel. It looks like I can see a Chevy Quadrajet side fuel inlet, but that's a TBI truck air cleaner. You can pull a valve cover to identify the head casting number and see if it has Vortec heads. If it's a carbed Vortec motor, that should be pretty nice.

 

[yevgenievich]

Appears to be carburated. But easier to tell if the air cleaner is off. Center bolt valve covers and older accessories(non vortec). Need better picture of the intake bolts to see if it has vortec heads.

 

[86Chevy350]

Here's a few more pics . And thanks for all the help.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[yevgenievich]

Appears to be a 87-95 tbi motor with carb(looks to be a quadrajet) and old hei distributor.
Vortec heads have different bolt patern for the intake, does not appear to have those.

 

[86Chevy350]

He said they put the old heads on this motor. This is what he told me. Does it make sense to y'all[You get Higher compression ratio old blocks heads low compression bottom ends, high-compression heads. New blocks like vortec had heads high compression bottom ends, low compression heads. Plus I did not drop it in. So what the setup you have now you should have a high compression head, and high compression bottom end. If I'm correct]

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

The heads are essentially what make a Vortec a Vortec. Without them, I wouldn't call it a Vortec. If it's a 1986 truck, the old heads would have been made in the old tradition (non-swirl port, 4 outer edge valve cover bolts with spacers). It sounds like a TBI motor, and the PO lied to you, or for some universally unknown reason, the PO put TBI heads on a late Small Block Chevy.

 

[yevgenievich]

Taking the vortec heads defeats the purpose of the vortec motor. They might have put a set of 305 heads from a tpi motor for more compression, but 305 heads are a downgrade compared to vortec. Have to take the valve covers to verify. But it has tbi motor accessories, a mechanical fuel pump block off plate and non vortec center bolt valve cover heads. Unless it was pieced together, appears to just be a regular tbi motor with a carb on it.

 

[86Chevy350]

Thank you for the reply. What odds the best way to find out for sure what I got. The po didn't do the motor the 1st owner did. The odometer reads 65782mi. Thanks And looking forward to learning and working on my truck with y'alls help.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Pull a valve cover. The numbers are cast into the top of them where the rockers and pushrods are. Vortec head numbers end in 906 or 062. 191 or 188 for common TBI heads.

 

[86Chevy350]

What are some things you guys would do to this motor after just getting it?

 

[86Chevy350]

Okay I pulled passenger side valve cover. I see 14102193.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[86Chevy350]

I talked to the p.o. he said for oil changes and main seal and belts to go off of a 97 vortec. But spark plugs and stuff to go by chevy 350.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

It sounds like the bottom end and accessory drive is from 1997, the heads are earlier TBI heads, and you're running a carb on top. What I would do depends on time, money, and if you have another vehicle and won't be in a bind should that vehicle break down. If you were on a budget and wanted it going quick, I'd just make it run good and focus on other areas of the truck. If I had some money to throw at it, I'd put Vortec heads on it and a Vortec carb intake. I'd keep the carb you have, also. With the appropriate heads and valve covers, you'd have a true carbed Vortec 350.