Is there a difference between an 1988 350 block and an LT-1 block. Can it be used for an Lt-1. Just wondering. Thanks in advance.

Hughey

 

LT1's block have different coolant route. LT1's are reverse coolant.

 

The entire front end of the LT1 block is different from the earlier Gen 1 SBC engines. Different water pump configuration, a "pocket" for the Optispark distributor, resulting different timing cover. If you put your Gen 1 block in an LT1, you have to either use the Gen 1 heads, or have the LT1 heads converted to the reverse flow cooling passages. Then you would have no way to feed your LT1 PCM without the Opti, or developing a system to provide the Opti high- and low-res signals to the PCM. The LT1 PCM can not function without the low-res pulse. You would require a distributor to be installed, or conversion to an aftermarket bank-to-bank ECU.

Some info and photos:

http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/ar99928.htm