I need to rebuild my engine, or get a new one and I can get a 350 pretty cheap, but I dont want too lose my power. Is it just the heads, cam and intake for the most part? My heads are OK(I think) and I'll probably put a hotcam kit in while swapping the engine, but just curious on the difference if any, cause I though a 350, is a 350.

 

The block for an LT1 has port's design for reverse flow coolant.

 

The block is setup for reverse cooling, and the distributor is run off the cam at the front of the motor instead of the rear. It wouldn't be cheaper to swap in a "regular" 350 in place of your LT1.

 

Most of the rotating assembly and a few other things are the same/similar as some earlier SBCs . Nope, a 350 is not always like another 350.

 

Man i was pissed when i found that out. I've always been a Ford guy and loved the look of these LT1 cars so i decided i'd give GM a shot. I also figured it would be cheap and easy to get a lot of HP out of it becauses its a 350 SBC. I've also heard about interchangability on GM motors and parts. Well that was all WRONG.

 

stronger rods, bigger oil pump pickup tube,moly rings,hypertectic pistons. pretty much just the bore/stroke is all thats the same.

 

You still are wrong. Most of it is interchangable just not the block. The rotating assembly and valvetrain are interchangable back thru 87, the rods and pistons go back a long ways past that that is just the one piece rear main crank change year. The heads and rotating assembly are BETTER than anything GM had ever used before. If you want to use GEN 1 heads the only ones worth considering would be aftermarket and some of those even flow less and if you find some worthwhile they can be modified to work on an LT1.

 

yup very true.they are interchangeable. Just not as good so theres no point. anyone know what lts flow compared to vortech??

 

I'm aware of all that. I've rebuilt my motor, and have the book "how to rebuild an LT1" so i'm familiar with all that interchanges. Simple things like the distributor drive gear has a different inside diameter, gen 1 heads will work but not with out machine work, we need roller rockers made for centerbolt SBC's, old 400 cranks won't work because they are a 2 piece seal. If that sort of stuff would interchange it would make life alot easier.

 

We don't have to use centerbolt valvecover rockers and besides those go back to 87 anyway, a lot of guys use widebody rockers and even non-SA rockers. On the 400 crank you absolutely can use one just need a 2piece rear main to one piece adapter which is a bad idea, hell using a 400 crank in a gen1 smallblock is not a great idea for the extra machining costs it takes to machine one you might as well buy a stroker crank.

As far as how the Vortec head compare to the LT1s their ports and chambers are copies of the b-body LT1 iron heads, as such they flow more tham most LT1 aluminums and as well as the best aluminums used in 96-7.