Are all 350 Chevys mostly the same?

[thecantaloupeman]

I have started searching for a 350 to buy as a winter project for my truck. I want to build it up on my free time and then swap it in when I have the time. This way I'm not without a truck for however long it takes to rebuild the engine.

Anyway, I was originally searching for the same year 350, but I'm curious what changed about the 350 over the years. Were they all the same until the tbi 350? They all look pretty much the same to me but I know that probably isn't the case. Can someone educate me?

 

[AuroraGirl]

gen i, gen ii, gen iii.... gen ii being your tbi. gen 3 being LS family. Confusing, Gm is producing new gen 2 engines called gen 1.... but they were late late gen 2... its weird.
Square bodies were all fitted from factory with gen ii, you should have little trouble getting any gen ii to work. if you go carbureted, easy peasy. if you want to retin tbi you have some work but not a terrible amount of it to go., Just know that BOP engines have small block 350s as well and only the oldsmobile 350 diesel was used in a square the rest never touched them but can be made to work if you are invested

 

[potent rodent]

what year truck do u have

 

[Midnightmoon]

Don't forget the change from the 2-piece rear seal to the 1-piece seal in the mid 80's. This link has a couple of good pictures that show the difference.

https://bpi.ebasicpower.com/faq/gmsmallblock.htm

 

[Frankenchevy]

Any 350 will fit in your truck. Some will need a different manifold, such as a 96-02 vortec 350.

1-piece RMS started in 86 and will require a different flex plate/flywheel than your truck. The accessory/front drive arrangement will vary too.

The easiest would either be a first gen 350 from around your era or a complete takeout with the accessory brackets, etc.

 

[SirRobyn0]

I going to pretty much echo what everyone else has said. Yes, there are differences, but any 350 will fit. If it were me I'd look for one closeish to the year truck you have, but note the year of the engine for future parts ordering. I will say one thing though, when it's time for my truck to get a new motor it's definitely getting vortec heads, for the increase in HP even though I will keep it as carbureted.

 

[AuroraGirl]

what year truck do u have

1980. with a 1974-1976 ish motor. not stock intake or carb, no emissions except pcv.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Dude...
No.

Do yourself a favor and build a 1 piece RMS block. 87 - 92 LO5. The dipstick switched sides and the timing cover is different (oil pan) from a 2 piece RMS block. You'll have to make certain the fuel pump pushrod (pump BOSS) is drilled through because some (most?) were NOT. BUT that's not a deal breaker - your machine shop can fix it NP but be aware of that potential pitfall.
What you REALLY want is an LO5 block out of a big body CAR. This may be factory roller cammed, one piece RMS, maybe oil cooler- and if you look long enough you can find one with the pushrod hole drilled to mount a mechanical fuel pump without delay.

Think ROADMASTER , PARK AVENUE - C and B body cars , Caprice, Impala, even some Cadillacs had Chevrolet LO5 engines. Take your time and you can find the right one. Build a car motor and put it in your truck.
All 350s were NOT created equal - contrary to the other replies in this thread.. i'm here to help and know what i'm talkin about lol.

Build an early LO5 out of a car.

87-92 but really 1988 CAR engines MAY be roller motors, no truck engine will be - dont bother looking. That hard part has been done for you. Car engines only.. 87 may be too early 92 may be too late. 1988, 1989 prolly the best shot at a roller motor, drilled fuel pump boss. Unicorn carb motor in a TBI car. They're out there..a bunch. Lotta lookin. 87,88,89..
Camaro and Firebird have good LO5s and in my experience those pushrods arent drilled but thats where the good heads come from.

#083 is the best cast iron not vortex cylinder head ever made. That's what you want Screw vortex. Trans Am ,GTA, IROC, Z-28. #083 F body heads on a 1988 L05 out of a Roadmaster.

Good luck.

Hope this helps!

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These cars had BAD.ASS. 350s.
"Euro" front end Caprice? Rounded turns. Yeah baby!

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[Vbb199]

Dude...
No.

Do yourself a favor and build a 1 piece RMS block. 87 - 92 LO5. The dipstick switched sides and the timing cover is different (oil pan) from a 2 piece RMS block. You'll have to make certain the fuel pump pushrod (pump BOSS) is drilled through because some (most?) were NOT. BUT that's not a deal breaker - your machine shop can fix it NP but be aware of that potential pitfall.
What you REALLY want is an LO5 block out of a big body CAR. This may be factory roller cammed, one piece RMS, maybe oil cooler- and if you look long enough you can find one with the pushrod hole drilled to mount a mechanical fuel pump without delay.

Think ROADMASTER , PARK AVENUE - C and B body cars , Caprice, Impala, even some Cadillacs had Chevrolet LO5 engines. Take your time and you can find the right one. Build a car motor and put it in your truck.
All 350s were NOT created equal - contrary to the other replies in this thread.. i'm here to help and know what i'm talkin about lol.

Build an early LO5 out of a car.

87-92 but really 1988 CAR engines MAY be roller motors, no truck engine will be - dont bother looking. That hard part has been done for you. Car engines only.. 87 may be too early 92 may be too late. 1988, 1989 prolly the best shot at a roller motor, drilled fuel pump boss. Unicorn carb motor in a TBI car. They're out there..a bunch. Lotta lookin. 87,88,89..
Camaro and Firebird have good LO5s and in my experience those pushrods arent drilled but thats where the good heads come from.

#083 is the best cast iron not vortex cylinder head ever made. That's what you want Screw vortex. Trans Am ,GTA, IROC, Z-28. #083 F body heads on a 1988 L05 out of a Roadmaster.

Good luck.

Hope this helps!

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

These cars had BAD.ASS. 350s.
"Euro" front end Caprice? Rounded turns. Yeah baby!

You must be registered for see images attach

The buick roadmaster's 350 really is a hoss for what it is.

My incompotent cousin has one, its got a overheating issue, ive diagnosed what it is, but he thinks its something else, its beyond help he says.
Hes considering sending her to the scrapyard and i say, please do! But let me yank that block out first!

(Sorry, the caprice reminded me of that)

 

[Rusty Nail]

I'd be all over that engine.

 

[SquareRoot]

Vortec heads live inside Rusty Nails' head rent free.

 

[Rusty Nail]

lol grrr

Like some kind of extremely expensive magical elixir cure-all. Wonderment of teh vortex heads!

Ever notice how nobody does that swap and raves on and on about how fricking awesome it is? Never hear the and then part of that story. Its just about new intakes and exhausts and fuel pumps , head cracks, machine shops, valvesprings, camshafts and pains in the ass.

Never hear anything else about it AFTER the fact.

swap to vortex heads AND THEN your thread dies probably because youre broke lol. Still gettin your ass spanked my my Blazer...

"30 horse" for HOW MUCH? mmm great deal - worth it. Glad I did it. Never been a problem since. I win every drag race and now whup up on a 6.0.

Gtfo of here.


Nope. Never hear that.
Might as well watch TV - buncha freakin zombies..

Vooorrtexxx VooOOORRRrrrteeexx

Black rimmmmmmm ! vorteeecks!

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[WFO]

I'll take the 1970 LT-1, with solid lifters, 11:1 compression, high-performance camshaft, and a 780 CFM Holley four-barrel carburetor that sent fuel and air through an aluminum intake manifold. Exhaust gasses exited the combustion chamber through ramhorn manifolds and high-flow exhaust. In 1970, the LT-1 cranked out 370 horsepower (gross) and was available in the Corvette ZR-1 and Camaro Z28.

 

[Rusty Nail]

I used to think that I needed a '010' block to get a good one but now I think the reality is that unless you are runnin big boost or squeeze - bothering to find an old school "high nickel" simply isnt worth it. It won't offer any benefit in the parking lot or light to light. In that sense , yeah..theyre pretty much all the same however they're all different.
Lookit this list here.

https://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/reference-chevy-engine-block-casting-numbers/

There sure is a bunch to choose from (90.,00,000) and if youre just goin to the store with a stock rebuild? then yeah it's not gonna matter which one ya run. There's no good reason to source an 010 ,4 bolt or to bother with a centerbolt one piece to drive to church on Sundays in.

BUT a one piece block wont leak oil like the old 2 piece blocks do...that's the draw - plus you could run a roller and a 1 piece roller CAR block is gonna make more power , easier than an old 2 piece TRUCK block.
Know what i'm sayin?

 

[Vbb199]

lol grrr

Like some kind of extremely expensive magical elixir cure-all. Wonderment of teh vortex heads!

Ever notice how nobody does that swap and raves on and on about how fricking awesome it is? Never hear the and then part of that story. Its just about new intakes and exhausts and fuel pumps , head cracks, machine shops, valvesprings, camshafts and pains in the ass.

Never hear anything else about it AFTER the fact.

swap to vortex heads AND THEN your thread dies probably because youre broke lol. Still gettin your ass spanked my my Blazer...

"30 horse" for HOW MUCH? mmm great deal - worth it. Glad I did it. Never been a problem since. I win every drag race and now whup up on a 6.0.

Gtfo of here.


Nope. Never hear that.
Might as well watch TV - buncha freakin zombies..

Vooorrtexxx VooOOORRRrrrteeexx

Black rimmmmmmm ! vorteeecks!

You must be registered for see images attach

I have vortec heads on my "snack wagon" suburban's 350.