So this isn't exactly a "performance" rebuild but I would like to get a lil more power out of the motor.

Here's the story I have a 88 GMC V3500 mason dump. I overheated it, burned up oil and destroyed most of the crank bearings a year ago on a long haul in a heat wave...Its been parked since, motor runs but sounds like a bucket of bolts.

The truck has a plow and I would like to get it back running for plowing and to have a 2nd dump truck for work. It would be nice to get some more power out of it but I don't want a basket case. This has to be a reliable vehicle that any of my employees could get in a drive. That being said I am not wanting to go down the road of adjustable fuel pressure requlator etc..

Anyone with some TBI experience what all would you recommend I can put into this motor and keep it driveable?
EFI Cam?
Vortec heads?

Or should I just accept what power it will have and buy a GM Long block that is built for TBI?

Motor is backed up by a SM465 that will also be getting a rebuild.

Thanks

 

Heads will be a good upgrade vortec. I would but a good cam for tourque tho if u r using it for a plow/dump truck. That heads and cam combo should work without any fuel upgrades. With heads alone it will be a night and day difference.

 

Gm makes an intake with the vortec bolt pattern that works with the stock or an aftermarket tbi unit. Holley makes one too if i remember correctly. A cheap upgrade would be to get a bored rebuilt tbi off ebay. They have 50mm blades as opposed to the 42mm(?) stockers. You will have to make some provision for egr if you want to keep it. The vortec heads do not have an exhaust crossover for egr it is in the exhaust manifold on those engines.

 

You cannot beat TBI heads for torque from idle through 4,500 rpm. Not even the vortecs can touch them on a 350. I would use a mild roller cam in the 210/215* range on a 110* LSA if you want the most grunt possible. Stock vortec roller cam would also work out really well.

 

If you do a Vortec head swap be ready to upgrade the fuel system and tune the ecm. It will not even be driveable with the stock stuff. Heads will not even be noticeable with the stock cam or even a RV cam until you are over 4,500 rpm. Stock TBI shifts before 4,500 rpm and spends most of its life between 1,200 and 2,500 rpm, do the math!

 

Scrap it you can pickup a new crate motor froms jegs, scoggin dickey and summit for about 2K for a 96+ vortec 350 ready to go with roller cam and a warranty. Or stock 95 back TBI for about the same price with warranty also

 

stock lt1 cam for a cheap up grade? if its low mileage

 

LT1 would work well if you advance it 4*. Used a LT4 cam straight up in one of those 8,600+ GVW 350s back in the day. With thorley tri-y headers, exhaust, edelbrock performer rpm intake, 1" tbi spacer, 454 TBI, and tuning.