Stock VS Vortec engine accessories question

Ok so I have a completely stock SBC 350 in my 1986 suburban. I’m thinking about either doing the Vortec head swap and the parts along with it, or an already pulled Vortec engine and do a complete swap.

My questions are:

With either setup, head swap or full engine swap, is there a way to maintain the same accessory setup as what I have. By that I mean: alternator on the left, A/C on the right, and multi-belt instead of a serpentine.

And is the head swap with my block or a full Vortec swap better or worse than the other? Any power difference or compression value change?

Burbinator86 said:

Ok so I have a completely stock SBC 350 in my 1986 suburban. I’m thinking about either doing the Vortec head swap and the parts along with it, or an already pulled Vortec engine and do a complete swap.

My questions are:

With either setup, head swap or full engine swap, is there a way to maintain the same accessory setup as what I have. By that I mean: alternator on the left, A/C on the right, and multi-belt instead of a serpentine.

And is the head swap with my block or a full Vortec swap better or worse than the other? Any power difference or compression value change?

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I'm assuming you are doing the vortec swap looking for a power gain. If that is the case swap out the whole engine,going full vortec you'll end up with a roller cam and lifters.A minor in convenience is that your vortec motor 99% is it won't have provisions for a mechanical fuel pump. There are a couple of ways of getting around this. I'd do it factory zz3 style. Which is a tbi pump in the tank a pressure regulator where the stock pump was and uses all factory lines. If you can't find the info.let us know I'll try to find it . Swap water pump,and distributor gear and I don't see any reason you couldn't reuse all your accessories and brackets.

Did this on my K5. The vortech heads have metric bolt holes. The block still uses SAE. Everything lines up except for the ac compressor rear support rod. A little minor grinding and it bolted up fine.

wildbowtie said:

Did this on my K5. The vortech heads have metric bolt holes. The block still uses SAE. Everything lines up except for the ac compressor rear support rod. A little minor grinding and it bolted up fine.

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That's weird. Every vortec head I've ever dealt with had SAE bolt holes for everything.