The Vortec 350's balancer is 1/16" narrower to accomodate the reluctor wheel that the crank sensor reads. Teh crank sensor is housed in the plastic front timing cover.

All Vortec 350 engines are roller cammed. 192°/197° at 0.50" lift with .413"/.427" lift with 1.5:1 rockers on a 111 LSA.

teh Vortec blocks have a different metallurgy and no mechanical fuel pump provision.

peace
Hog

 

so i would nedd the vortec 350's balancer then?

would any of the 400ci small blocks work with my setup?

where does the knock sensor go on those motors?

 

Knock sensor = passenger side coolant drain hole.

400 ci blocks are 2 pc. rear mains....I know you want to keep it 1 pc.

 

well im not dead set on going with the 1 pc. I cant seem to find any around here actually. But if the 400ci blocks will work (brackets, sensors, etc.) then i might go that route. 406 or 424 or something. i dont know if they made those 400 blocks after '87, so i dont know if they will work.

thanks to you guys too. You guys know your ****.

 

The 400 blocks were made pre-86. The sensors will work and brackets should be fine, you might come into one or two problems but the guys over on another site got through it fine using the serpentine system. You will have to drill steam holes for your cylinders heads so that it won't crack.

 

more info on these steam holes?

 

Here is a website, go down to the bottom of the page and you will see a set of cylinder heads, read the caption under the pic.
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/400_small_block/

 

also, the vortech motors, are all roller cam, and the older non vortech are flat tappet engines, also, the lifter bore between older, pre '87, 87-95, 95 up, as well as vortech and non vortech, they all have different lifter bore sizes.

 

Very good point....I forgot to tell him that the 400 block is flat tappet base but from 87-up, should have the same lifter b/c they are roller lifter blocks, just the 87-95 got a flat tappet cam. Pre-86 down you will have to use a retro-fit lifters and cam for hyd. roller.

 

so the '87 and up 350 blocks are hyd. roller right. But none of the 400 blocks are. I really would rather not have to retro fit anthing, so i'll just go with a 350 block instead of the 400 if i'm understanding you guys correctly.