Small Block Interchange-ability across years? How to put a 97 Vortec Motor in a 92?

[fishmunger]

Hey gang,

So I got a 97 GMC 2500 (heavy half) extended cab, short bed, auto trans, 2wd. Nice truck, I had a vortec crate motor installed in it a few years back when the original engine blew. The motor has less than 50,000 miles on it now, runs great. But unfortunately I had a BFG all terrain come apart and mess up the bed pretty bad. Clean truck otherwise, been driving it like that for a few years but getting kinda sick of the damage. Have considered swapping beds from a donor truck but I really wish this truck was 4wd.

So a good friend is the original owner of a very clean 1992 K2500 reg cab long bed. He recently got a new truck. The '92 probably won't pass smog much longer (has a leaky valve guide). I could get his truck fairly cheap I think, probably a couple grand, maybe less, and like I said its a very nice truck and 4x4, unmolested.

How hard would it be to drop the motor from my 97 into his 92? Is it pretty much a bolt in type of deal that I could get done in one long day or maybe 2 at most? I'm not looking for a big project, and I'm concerned that putting his tbi stuff onto my vortec motor might be problematic? I can turn a wrench but I'm no engine tuner, and I've never swapped a motor before but am mechanically inclined (I do most all of my own work/maintenance) and I don't want to get in over my head having to modify or troubleshoot stuff. It's also important that it looks/works right afterwards because here in CA I got to pass smog.

What do you guys think? Is this worth doing? What issues should I expect?

Thank you