![]() |
Register or Log In To remove these advertisements. |
|
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#26 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Quote:
My old engine actually had Vortec heads on it. Yes a couple of the plugs were real close but they worked ok. The water neck on the intake actually has a tap I screwed the original temp sender into. Seems to work ok. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#27 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Well progress has been slow, been hammered with a chest cold since last Saturday and am just now feeling better. Here's what I've got on the front of my L31 now, I got a metal timing cover from the wrecking yard and ordered a water pump for my specific '71 application. I bought a harmonic balancer for a '71 350 as well but when I got it home and started measuring it appeared that if I used the reluctor wheel as a washer, the face of the balancer would press onto the crank and end up in about the same position the 'old' style balancer would. So, the picture shows the metal timing cover, ''71 water pump and the harmonic balancer that I received with the L31 crate. The crank pulleys and water pump pulley line up pretty much perfectly. I'm going to return the balancer that I bought and move ahead with this combo. Have to believe that the power steering and alternator brackets are going to install back onto the new block just as they worked on the original '71 block.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#28 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: greeneville tn
Posts: 237
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Did you have to drill timing cover bolt holes or holes for alignment pins? Also what seal did you use for the seal on bottom of timing cover ? Keep us updated with what ever you did to make it work. thanks
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#29 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#30 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,910
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Quote:
__________________
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#31 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Here's a pic to illustrate:
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#32 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: cheyenne wy
Posts: 31
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Did you find out what the correct type of distributor gear is needed? I keep finding different answers for that.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#33 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
I got a melonized gear for the HEI that I'm running. Didn't really find much that I can recall which was controversial on this subject, the material of which the roller camshaft in the L31 crate is made differs from the standard distributor drive gear and it will wear prematurely.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#34 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: greeneville tn
Posts: 237
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
How did you modify the reluctor for the metal timing cover to fit ?Anymore details ? Thanks
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#35 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
I cut the outer portion away and used the inside like a washer. This seems to position the balancer that came with the crate end up in position to reuse the original pulleys and mounts for accessory drives - alternator, power steering pump.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#36 |
One of the First
![]() Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: St. Augustine,FL.
Posts: 4,054
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Would you have anymore pictures of what your detailing above? I'm just about to start this same install, using my 1970 accessory brackets. Thanks
__________________
DAVID PASSMORE ST AUGUSTINE ,FL ZIP 32084 '71 SWB K/10 CUSTOM DELUXE (Chili) '72 BLAZER K/5 Muscle Truck (Mule) '72 LWB K/20 CHEYENNE (Blackie) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#37 |
One of the First
![]() Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: St. Augustine,FL.
Posts: 4,054
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Would you have anymore pictures of what your detailing above? I'm just about to start this same install, using my 1970 accessory brackets. Thanks
__________________
DAVID PASSMORE ST AUGUSTINE ,FL ZIP 32084 '71 SWB K/10 CUSTOM DELUXE (Chili) '72 BLAZER K/5 Muscle Truck (Mule) '72 LWB K/20 CHEYENNE (Blackie) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#38 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
I did not get pictures of my modified reluctor wheel. Here's a shot of one I grabbed off the net, I simply cut away the outer part of the wheel leaving the flat portion in the center. Pretty simple modification. Then if you look a couple posts above you can see a comparison of a harmonic balancer for the L31 application and for the stock 71 model year application. The reluctor wheel "washer" will make the two of them equal in height so when you install your original crank pulley it ends up in the original position line up with your driven accessories. You can use a metal timing cover like I did, you don't need the L31 plastic unit that fits over the reluctor wheel because its not there any longer. The plastic unit probably has a hole for the sensor anyhow, that would need to be plugged up at minimum.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#39 |
One of the First
![]() Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: St. Augustine,FL.
Posts: 4,054
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Did your the reluctor wheel come with the motor? I haven't uncrated mine yet.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#40 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Quote:
I think these are the timing cover options - there is actually a plastic cover available without the sensor hole in it. Then of course you can use the one that came with the crate and plug the hole. Or, you can use a metal timing cover which works fine once the reluctor wheel is cut down. Since I used a metal cover from another engine I verified the balancer timing mark was at Zero on the timing tab at top dead center, something else to watch for so that you can time your engine accurately. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#41 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Godley, TX
Posts: 17,963
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Quikshift, this is a very helpful thread, thanks for sharing what you're learning as you go. Quik question for you - is this the L31 or L31R engine?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#42 |
One of the First
![]() Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: St. Augustine,FL.
Posts: 4,054
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
x2
__________________
DAVID PASSMORE ST AUGUSTINE ,FL ZIP 32084 '71 SWB K/10 CUSTOM DELUXE (Chili) '72 BLAZER K/5 Muscle Truck (Mule) '72 LWB K/20 CHEYENNE (Blackie) |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#43 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road.
Posts: 2,629
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Good thread. Maybe we could ask admin to make it a sticky in Engines and Drive train.
Thinking of the same route myself. What I would really like to see is someone doing a 4 barrel carb setup with Auto Trans. I am wondering if I can reuse my stock Trans kick down bracket on a Vortec Manifold??? Anyone done this? Would be nice for the pics... Last edited by toolboxchev; 02-02-2019 at 03:21 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#44 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: greeneville tn
Posts: 237
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
I have an L31 in a 51 Chevy truck but I didn't change timing cover .I had to change out some of the stock timing cover bolts to get a stock short pump to work. I had a Tuff stuff chrome pump that still would not fit,that is why the stock pump.I have a Holley carb and three fifty trans that work and I used Locar throttle cable and hooked the trans as with any other sbc .I did have a cooling problem . The temp would go up and down as I drove . I had to use a water bypass to get this to stop . all the things about holes in thermostat and heater as a bypass did not work I had to run a hose from intake to the top of water pump. There was a good write up on one of the Camaro sites about this. I am changing to steel cover for this l31to use in a 68 GMC .Be careful as you remove the stock plastic cover so as not to damage the cover to oil pan gasket. Sorry but I can not post pic.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#45 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Kingsburg, Ca.
Posts: 92
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#46 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Godley, TX
Posts: 17,963
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Good call! I was just wondering. Kinda wondered if perhaps there was a difference between the two regarding whether or not the holes were all drilled and tapped for the timing cover. Seems like I've heard some folks say theirs weren't, so trying to see if there's any logic to whether they were or not. If I do this, it will also be the R version. Yet, for some reason, my search continues for a nearby 72 vintage 350 that hasn't been bored a few too many times.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#47 | |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road.
Posts: 2,629
|
Re: L31 350 installation questions
Quote:
Maybe its the 3 or 4 hundred and 80 thousand miles on a high nickel block. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|