1987 V3500 Engine update

[Fr8dog]

I recently purchased an 87 V3500 C&C truck on an auction last month. Had to drive from southern utah to northeast Oregon to go pick it up. Seller said motor was seized from running diesel fuel in it. When I got the time, I put a breaker bar on the balancer and I could turn the motor easily. I checked the oil and noticed it appeared to be over-filled by 100% or more on the dipstick. (Yeah not good) So i get my diesel oil drain pan and drain the oil out of the engine. Unfortunately, the first 4-5 quarts that came out first was orange dex coolant, then 4-5 quarts of very dirty oil. Pulled the oil filter and it didn’t look too bad. Refilled crankcase with some old 15w/40 i’ve had laying on a shelf for 20 years. I then pulled all the plugs and cranked the motor over, after replacing bad starter. It seems water is coming out of #5,7 and #8 cylinders. During the cranking the oil pressure showed about 50-60 psi and no major bad noises were heard. I’m hoping this is just blown head gaskets from a hydro-lock situation. Will be pulling the heads to investigate.

If the block isn’t salvageable, i’m looking at a Smeding 383 short block and then I’ll build it with some new vortec heads to give the old girl a new lease on life. Truck is a 49 state heavy emissions 350 and I believe was the last year a 350 could get a Q-Jet.

Updates to follow.

 

[Redfish]

Please tell me about that winch. Looks like a Ramsey...

And yes, 1987 was the first year for TBI but I am not sure about the 3500 trucks. I didn't know a carburetor was still an option for '87 but I am happy to learn something new.

 

[Fr8dog]

Please tell me about that winch. Looks like a Ramsey...

And yes, 1987 was the first year for TBI but I am not sure about the 3500 trucks. I didn't know a carburetor was still an option for '87 but I am happy to learn something new.

Yes Ramsey 12,000 lb electric winch. Still works fine. I believe 87 was last year for heavy emissions 350 >8600 gvw to get a q-jet. I believe the 7.4 carried on with the carb for possibly two more years with 49 state emissions and >8600 gvw. I could be wrong on that.

 

[fast 99]

Owned 2 C30 cab/chassis 1988 and 1989 1-ton DRW 454. Both were TBI.

Do remember working on customer dual air pump carbed 454's during that time, unsure what year they were. Horrible to work on, guessing 87.

 

[Fr8dog]

Motor that’s in the truck ended up having 6 quarts of coolant in the oil pan. I believe the block is windowed and or cracked. PO was a fire dept, they said some new recruits filled the truck up with diesel and ran it till it hydro-locked.

I’ve got a blueprint 350 TBI longblock coming for it. Basically an upgraded OE style replacement with a hyd.roller cam, new block and tbi heads.(Not a fan of flat tappet cam/lifters and the dreaded break-in) New longblock is Supposed to be 260hp and 342 lb ft torque. Stock LT9 350 4 barrel had 160 hp! I was going to get a 383 stroker long block but decided on keeping it a 350. It’s not a hot rod, just going to be my mountain wood truck.

 

[gmbellew]

Motor that’s in the truck ended up having 6 quarts of coolant in the oil pan. I believe the block is windowed and or cracked. PO was a fire dept, they said some new recruits filled the truck up with diesel and ran it till it hydro-locked.

I’ve got a blueprint 350 TBI longblock coming for it. Basically an upgraded OE style replacement with a hyd.roller cam, new block and tbi heads.(Not a fan of flat tappet cam/lifters and the dreaded break-in) New longblock is Supposed to be 260hp and 342 lb ft torque. Stock LT9 350 4 barrel had 160 hp! I was going to get a 383 stroker long block but decided on keeping it a 350. It’s not a hot rod, just going to be my mountain wood truck.

Keep us posted on that new block! That is the same one I have my eye on when the time comes for me.

 

[Fr8dog]

Keep us posted on that new block! That is the same one I have my eye on when the time comes for me.

I will let you know.

I had entertained a 383 longblock, the Atk HP90 in particular, but decided to stick to blueprint 350 as the truck has 4.56 gears and really won’t be towing much, mostly will be my mountain wood truck. Also wanted to reuse stock exhaust tubular manifolds and factory dual exhaust, figured a 383 would need headers and new exhaust to breath more optimally. I do like the idea of a new block and heads, and not an unknown reman parts. This is first time i’ve ever ordered an engine, i’ve always built them before but times have changed and machine shops are not the value proposition they used to be in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

I’m putting a tbi head compatible weiand spreadbore low-rise dual plane intake and stock Q-Jet on it. Didn’t want to drill out the center 4 holes on stock iron carb intake and have any cracking and or sealing issues. This block is machined for a mechanical fuel pump and the roller camshaft has the fuel pump eccentric. I intend to use my own mech. fuel pump for simplicity.

Pretty excited to get this ole girl back on the road.

 

[gmbellew]

out of curiosity, why aren't you sticking with the TBI?

 

[Fr8dog]

out of curiosity, why aren't you sticking with the TBI?

This truck originally came as a heavy emissions LT-9 350 with a carb. Apparently, 1987 was the last year of the Q-jet for the 350, and I believe it also had to be a cab/chassis, which this truck is.

 

[Fr8dog]

The engine showed up today at the freight terminal. Dyno sheet included. Interesting that the dyno sheet exceeded both the torque and hp for what was advertised for this engine.

 

[Fr8dog]

Sorry for lack of follow up lately. Lots of work getting done in the last few months. Have the BP 350 installed in the truck. Front seal replace on the SM-465, orig front seal lip was as hard as a rock. Last owner ran it that way and had 90w on the clutch and flywheel surface. Had to tidy up a lot of old fire radios and associated wiring, that was a fire hazard due to terrible install with no grommets and wires chafing at several points through the floor, and firewall. Must have removed 50 lbs of wiring and antiquated fire radios from the 80’s-90’s!

The dumbest small thing I ran into, as far as parts are concerned, was the driver side exhaust manifold studs. Apparently these things are as rare as hens teeth and the aftermarket ones were all wrong. I ended up finding a GM parts illustration and found the GM part number and tracked some NOS exhaust studs on ebay and we’re back in business! The studs on the driver side are unique in that they are extra long and also hold the EFE valve in place. This truck has the stainless tubular exhaust manifolds (85-87) and federal non cat dual exhaust system.

Picked up a new copper/brass 4 core radiator from summit, new AC parts, and much more. Goal is to fire her up possibly by the end of the month.

Put some HD rear greasable shackle hangars for the front leaf springs, from ORD in Co. These hangars raised the front end about 1/2 to 3/4”. The rear oem bushings were completely shot and the leaf spring end was touching the frame rail.

Next will be interior, new dash, instrument bezel and a lot of elbow grease cleaning. I did order the GM heritage site invoice sheet for the truck. Very interesting.

 

[ButchM]

Jeff
The LT9 350 and 454W were carbureted thru at least 1988. What all they were available in is debatable. If you have the SPID label showing an LT9 it was carb'd in 87.
Some of the pics below support this. If you have any further parts manual illustration/part number questions please reach out. Glad to hear the truck is coming along good.
A heads up, those 4.56 gears and non-overdrive trans are going to make fuel mileage and highway cruise RPM..... less than ideal. My K30 with 4.10's tachs 4000rpm at 80mph. If you plan on much highway/freeway use a Gear Vendors overdrive or similar may be an idea.

 

[RanchWelder]

We have the same truck with the same manifolds here at the shop.
Very desirable exhaust manifolds.
My new Hooker Cast Iron Manifolds, are litterally the same drop from front tube to rear tube, in design.

That wa sthe exclusion for the last carb'd 350 in a HD Commercial vehicle.
They allowed them for cities and towns to affordably buy without smog costs.

Very desirable models to collect.
Extremely rare in excellent to very good condition.
No smog. No TBI.

I would guess those manifold, (with the 4-smog ports bent over and sealed), are worth a fortune for any non-smog C30 or 3500 SBC engine package. Hen's teeth is an understatement.

When the factory manufactured them, they installed them without the needed smog systems.
Must have spent a fortune designing them for the parts, they never needed.
In stainless, no less.

Probably the best OEM SBC shorty truck factory headers, (despite the 4 blocked smog plugs); ever designed.

Don't ever sell them.
Swap to the Hooker's before you sell anyhting and keep them forever.
$$$$

The cast iron Hooker's are great to be square.
Best headers for a street truck ever.

I'll post pictures tomorrow, so we can be certain the manifold we are discussing are the same.

If they are staged, and get largerer towards tha back, in perfect GM welded stainless quality, that's the one's.

The truck is a 1 ton with a stock SBC and a fiberglass 22 foot man bucket.
Electri9cally certified for chaging lamp bulbs in parking lots or city streets.

Dual rear wheels. No smog anything.
71,000 original miles.
The custom work cabinets surrounding the lift, are 100% clean fiberglass. cases, doors and accessories.
Never seen one so clean made from glass. It's mint.
No extra holes or rust.

I mean MINT. Stem to stern. Pefect all white paint, patina. Blue bench seat.
Custom Deluxe.

Let me know if you guys are interested.
Might be for sale.

email me if you want one complete. 2WD dually.

 

[Fr8dog]

A few pic updates.

Still removing a poorly designed battery isolation system that had the isolator inside the cab. Original installer ran battery cables wrapped around frame and next to exhaust pipes, many areas had chaffing and just a poor install. Converting back to a simple dual battery install with a common junction and cleaner much safer reduced cable runs. AC system was all replaced, compressor, lines, evap and condenser.

Truck paint is original and faded, clear coat falling off. Fortunately it’s rust free. I will restore the interior, needs a new dash pad and general cleaning.

I’m not planning on driving this on the freeway much, i have a 2005 chevy shortbed 4x4 std cab 4.8 baby LS for hwy runs. This 87 truck it’s going to be my mountain truck, we live out in the SW Utah area. Planning on making it a dump bed in the future.

I really liked the fact the truck was a 4 speed for simplicity, had factory AC and tilt steering. I wished it was a big block but i’m not using it to pull anything too heavy so the blueprint 350 tbi motor should be just fine. I did install a weiand dual plane spreadbore intake that bolts on specifically to the tbi swirl port heads and allows the use of the stock 800 cfm Q-Jet. 1987 was also a cool year for me as that was the year I graduated high school. Blueprint dyno’d tjis 350 with a factory tbi fuel system and it made 275 hp and like 360 lb front torque, so it should be a good torquey motor for what i’m using it for.