I found a block as described above for $350 with 75k miles. Has crank, heads, pistons. Is the LT1 350 block a generic block before the opti, water pump, etc. that make it the LT1? It could use a rebuild but if I do that will LT1 parts bolt onto it? Cuz I'm no machinist is the reason I'm asking. In my experience 350 blocks had the distributor instead of the opti for firing the plugs. Any feedback would be appreciated greatly.

 

Im pretty sure it wont work because there is a gear too the opti that's crank driven i believe. You could carburete it and not run fuel injection lol. The intake will not line up and im pretty sure the heads wont either. Different pattern

 

You have a "Gen 1" SBC block. The LT1 is a "Gen 2" SBC block, and has several significant differences. Because the LT1 has the distributor on the front, and a reverse flow cooling system design, the entire front of the block is different, including the gear driven water pump and the distributor being driven off the nose of the cam. The reverse flow cooling system also results in the coolant passages at the deck being different, so LT1 heads can't be bolted to a Gen 1 block without welding up a couple of the coolant passages and drilling some new ones.

The there's the year of the Gen 1 block. Anything before 87 is set up for a 2-piece rear main seal. The LT1 uses the 1-piece rear seal like the 87+ blocks.

You could cobble up some things, but why bother? The LT1 block has been shown to be capable of supporting well over 1,000HP.

For photos of some of the differences, look here:

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti...t1_engine.aspx

 

I appreciate the enlightenment...you guys really ROCK!!!