350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

I have a 71 c10 that ive been driving for a year, the truck sat for about 10 years before I got it.
I converted it to an hei distributor and replaced the th350 with a 700r4 transmission. But the engine has uneven compression and kept fouling #2 and #8 sparkplugs and now looks like its getting water in the cylinders, so I its about time to rebuild it or replace it. The original 350 its pretty inexpensive to rebuild, I saw a kit on ebay with flattop pistons and an rv cam for arround $300. All the labor I'll be doing myself. So my question is if I'm going to put time and money into this, should i use the same engine or get a newer core engine with the centerbolt valvecovers. I plan to keep it carburated and use it as a daily driver. Any help or comments are greatly appreciated, thanks

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

While more expensive to build try to find a good core from a 96 to 98 truck that will have the roller cam and the vortec heads the vortec heads make 40 hp more than any chevy casting your gonna find. The sealing ability of ther newer one piece rear seal motor is light years ahead of the one in your truck now. The centerbolt heads are a little better but if you can find a vortec that is the hot ticket. You will need a vortec bolt pattern intake but it will be worth it. Jim

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

I agree with Hugger. While you may buy the rebuild kit for $300 that is not even close to the end. The machine work could be $1500 or more on your original, much of it in the heads. High mileage small blocks will need at least a full set of intake guides and many need exhaust guides. Hardened seats are a good thing for todays fuels. It is easy to spend $700+ just on heads. And after all that you just have a set of so-so heads. For what all the machine work costs you can buy a set of Vortecs or aftermarket. The later 1-pc seal blocks wear better than the originals and they definitely seal better.


I would give a strong look at fuel injection (either tuned port, throttle body, or Vortec if you get those heads). There is a reason that the newer stuff lasts longer and it is not better metal. By not having a carburetor slobbering extra fuel your oil stays cleaner which goes miles and miles towards longer life. Also they start faster so your battery, alternator, and starter last longer too. Increased mileage is also a plus especially for a driver.

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

go to Summit and pickup a 350 for about $1500

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

Competition products has some affordable engines as well....

http://www.competitionproducts.com/P...products/1597/

http://www.competitionproducts.com/L...products/1225/

Ben
:metal:

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

I did what hugger said about six years ago and love it, i use my truck about everyday.

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

I guess I don't know the difference between a 5.7 and a 350. Last I heard it was a different way to say the same thing. Ill guess that one has some metric bolts.

Re: 350 or 5.7 wich to put in my truck?
 

Hugger, I did some research and I guess the vortec motor is the best way to go, being that its
Still a smallblock and it should bolt right in, and about keeping it fuel injected I just dont know if I'm up for that kind of a challenge.
The people that have gone with the vortec engine, what are the tricks or the things to look out for?