Is it a 1st gen sbc or vortec engine?????
#1
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If a 1st gen sbc has centerbolt valve covers is it a vortec block? is there a way to tell the difference between 1st gen set up and a vortec set up. its in a older car but this is not the org motor. Any help would be great!
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Without looking up the numbers I dont know how to tell a vortec block from another.
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Vortec intakes have eight bolts instead of twelve.
Also, the casting code of the Vortec is three triangles as another poster has said. The valve cover for these heads are centerbolt just as the 87-99 cylinder heads.
Also, the casting code of the Vortec is three triangles as another poster has said. The valve cover for these heads are centerbolt just as the 87-99 cylinder heads.
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AND....THe timing cover bolt pattern is different....
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#8
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Uhh no, they both have the same casting number as long as they are 1pc RMS
Cyl wear is specific to an engine. Newer engines usually have less wear than older engines for obvious reasons
The plastic timing cover itself is different but interchanges. The bolt pattern is the same for the blocks, just a few holes arent used. They are still tapped for the older tin covers
The main bolt hole difference comes with some of the LO5's being setup for tappet cams. The lifter valley bosses are present but are not drilled. All L98 TPIs, L31's and most of the LO5's are roller blocks
Cyl wear is specific to an engine. Newer engines usually have less wear than older engines for obvious reasons
The plastic timing cover itself is different but interchanges. The bolt pattern is the same for the blocks, just a few holes arent used. They are still tapped for the older tin covers
The main bolt hole difference comes with some of the LO5's being setup for tappet cams. The lifter valley bosses are present but are not drilled. All L98 TPIs, L31's and most of the LO5's are roller blocks
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thats funny....cuz when I went to install this motor I was gonna put an old steel cover on, but the holes didnt line up and two of the holes arent even in the block...guess you havent had them in front of you huh?
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My GTA has a factory L98 350 TPI block in it. For the 0411 swap, a crank trigger is used. I have to use the plastic timing cover, reluctor ring, nub head bolts and thinner vortec balancer. Either two or four bolt holes were not reused with the new cover, I cant remember which
Vortec timing cover on older SBC
Next, I have a 1990 16' cube van with a LO5. I pulled a L31 from a junkyard and swapped all externals including the timing cover from the LO5 onto the L31 longblock. One difference was the 90' LO5 was a tappet cam so I used the old TPI timing cover. I had all the holes I needed
SBC stuff on a vortec
Not only have I had them in front of me, they are in my driveway
Vortec timing cover on older SBC
Next, I have a 1990 16' cube van with a LO5. I pulled a L31 from a junkyard and swapped all externals including the timing cover from the LO5 onto the L31 longblock. One difference was the 90' LO5 was a tappet cam so I used the old TPI timing cover. I had all the holes I needed
SBC stuff on a vortec
Not only have I had them in front of me, they are in my driveway
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thanks for proving my point...
#14
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Alright, Ive had enough of this discussion
These are the two bolt holes in question. They are behind the waterpump
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01589.jpg)
The plastic vortec cover on the old TPI block. You can see the difference in cover thickness and the general bulk of the bolt heads. I assume leaving them out was for clearance of the pump, not anything to do with the block
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01587.jpg)
The rest are the same
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01590.jpg)
The L31 longblock with LO5 trim and the TPI cover. The engine is out for rings this time. You can see the bolt behind the water pump is very much IN PLACE WITH A PRE-TAPPED HOLE
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01591.jpg)
The rest are stock
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01592.jpg)
Find a cheaper or easier way to put a LSx friendly crank trigger on a SBC, then tell me an OEM cover which does exactly that is unusable because it skips a few holes, nevermind the outer ridge is quite beefy and doesnt leak a drop...
Thanks for proving you're an idiot
Sup Crunk
These are the two bolt holes in question. They are behind the waterpump
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01589.jpg)
The plastic vortec cover on the old TPI block. You can see the difference in cover thickness and the general bulk of the bolt heads. I assume leaving them out was for clearance of the pump, not anything to do with the block
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01587.jpg)
The rest are the same
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01590.jpg)
The L31 longblock with LO5 trim and the TPI cover. The engine is out for rings this time. You can see the bolt behind the water pump is very much IN PLACE WITH A PRE-TAPPED HOLE
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01591.jpg)
The rest are stock
![](http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s98/Pocket_004/Misc/DSC01592.jpg)
Its four holes that wont work...so why on earth would you use it? two dont line up and two arent there...
thanks for proving my point...
dude knows his ****.
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Well, you proved your point... BUT, Im telling you neither of my two blocks have the holes thought..they are both 98 blocks though...maybe yours is of the 96 model.. possibly left overs.. My bad on it being four holes... I was thinking for some reason that the other two were move slightly.. I was wrong.. Have been before...But seriously, mine dont have the holes that yours do...