310
- Report
- Follow
Asked by mmagnotta92 Apr 11, 2017 at 05:42 PM about the Chevrolet C/K 1500
Question type: Car Customization
I have a 5.73 50 TBI motor in my truck, had
something go I need to replace so while I'm in the
motor I might swap the heads and I take manifold
for vortec .. The local junkyard is a u pull with a lot
of vortec engines in the cars around... if I pull used
heads off can I just swap them in or should I get
them cut first?
29 Answers
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
There is a problem with doing this. Your truck is set up for the TBI set-up, not a Vortec set-up. The Vortec set-up is controlled by a OBDII computer and the computer in your truck is a OBD1. Nothing will hook up, and the fuel system is wrong in your truck for the Vortec set-up. If you wanted the Vortec heads on your engine then you would have to buy a new intake manifold to be able to get the TBI set-up onto the heads. I did this, check out my garage on this sight, 400 hp. roller rocker, port and polished Vortec engine, '97 Vortec engine in my '95 Silverado.
55 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
310
- Report
mmagnotta92 answered 6 years ago
I said vortec intake manifold but my phone separated the words lol
10 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
310
- Report
mmagnotta92 answered 6 years ago
What I was reading was implying that I can swap the heads and pick up a intake manifold and a throttle body spacer and run it on my tbi 350
15 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
Yes you can, I did that.
3 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
But you would need to buy a TBI intake manifold to bolt up to the Vortec heads. You can't by a spacer for the Vortec intake manifold.
9 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
I got my intake manifold out of Jegs.
5 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
310
- Report
mmagnotta92 answered 6 years ago
What I was reading was saying it requires a vortec intake manifold to fit the heads? Unless a specific tbi aftermarket fits the motor with the vortec heads? Also if I do this and get heads from the junkyard that are good and not cracked etc should I get them cut? Or would I be okay and upgrade the valve train ?
6 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
Thats what I said. From Jegs, intake p/n 809-12496821. But what you want to do here...all depends on the condition of your block, how many miles are on it? On Chevy's I would not do anything with a block that would have over 50,000 miles on it. It is a crap shoot, no guarantees. Reconditioning the heads raises the compression, and the chance of turning the engine into a oil burner. It would pull the oil up past the rings. Vortec heads are a high flow head anyway. Here is a link to the TBI Vortec intake manifold... http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Performance/809/12496821/10002/-1
20 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
130
- Report
GuruDHR23 answered 6 years ago
can I put my 1990 350 intake on a 350 vortex engine
13 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
Dhr23, no on the intake fit, Vortec heads have a different bolt pattern, the Vortec intake has 8 bolts to hold it down where as from 1995 on back take 12 bolts to hold down the intake manifold on GM 350 or 5.7 engines.
11 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
220,545
- Report
Rowefast answered 6 years ago
Dhr23, no on the intake from 1990, Vortec heads have a different bolt pattern, the Vortec intake takes 8 bolts to hold it down where as from 1995 on back take 12 bolts to hold down the intake manifold on GM 350 or 5.7 engines.
6 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
210
- Report
GuruX1YSM answered 5 years ago
I have a 1995 k1500 with a blown 305 its a tbi i bought a 97 350 vortec motor what do i need to do to make it a tbi as well will my 305 intake work on the vortec
21 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
60
- Report
Hercules345 answered 5 years ago
Can I put vortec heads off a 98yukon and put the vortex heads on 1995 taheo TBi 350
6 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
80
- Report
GuruL63X7 answered 4 years ago
I put heads and intake tbi 5.7 on a 94 chevey tbi 5.7 bolted right up but i cant get it to send the fire to the plugs but coil everything is good dont understand it
8 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
80
- Report
chris answered 4 years ago
Icm is bad. They can test good and still be bad
Mark helpful
80
- Report
chris answered 4 years ago
I had this same issue on my 5.7 got a new ignition control module and boom fires right up also another problem sometimes u get spark but no tbi injector pulse its 9 times out of ten the icm they can test good about 30 times and still have no spark or injection pulse
8 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
50
- Report
GuruHJVPJ answered 4 years ago
can I take a crate motor out of a 1995 chevy step side with a tbi and put it into my 1971 chevy c 30? My c30 has a 350 in it now but old school carb set up with no computer
5 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
40
- Report
Guru14L1Z answered 4 years ago
I have a 87 Chevy small block vortec(Complete)Heads from a non vortec should fit The block correct (with changing the intake aswell)
4 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
20
- Report
GuruPQ5LS answered 4 years ago
Would a edelbrock intake work?
2 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
60
- Report
THOMAS answered 4 years ago
How much hp would the vortec heads create with the new intake to fit the tbi system
4 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
60
- Report
THOMAS answered 4 years ago
That intake thats needed for the vortec head swap to a TBI engine is $500+ for it
2 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
20
- Report
GuruRHX8L answered 4 years ago
I'm pretty sure I can do this but would like professional input. I have a 97 k3500 and am first owner. I love this truck whick is my reason for the project. It has a 7.4l vortec but at 180k it's engine is feeling tired. It's a truck and has been used as such. I have a 91 7.4l tbi sitting in the barn with 64k but it came out of a class a rv so those miles are like dog years. It was a very strong engine when I scrapped the chassis and still had fantastic compression. The compression in the 97 is also very good. I'm thinking of rebuilding the bottom end of the tbi engine primarily to reduce swap time because I use this truck a good deal. I'm thinking the head's will be a direct swap which of course the intake would be as well. The truck is a New Mexico truck and chassis, body and interior are in great shape and well maintained. The cost of just replacing with a new truck is not practical in my opinion. I do my own work for the most part so any input or recommendations would be appreciated.
2 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
80
- Report
GuruFTJWZ answered 3 years ago
I have a 1999 Tahoe that came with a 5.7 2 bolt main spin a crank bearing, I purchased a 4 bolt main crate motor installed it runs rough I'm getting the error code for random misfire, do I need to reflash the ecm because of the swap fro. 2 bolt to 4 bolt?
8 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
20
- Report
GuruMN3VT answered 3 years ago
Will a tbi out of a 94 Silverado fit in a 98 firebird?? I’m tryin to swap the 3.8 out and get the 350 in.They both have the 4L60E trans?
2 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
20
- Report
Guru94WX32 answered 3 years ago
If I was to put the wiring in the computer from the vortec to put with the intake and the heads could they be used on the older style 350 crate motor that had the TBI on it, then the fuel injected intake would work yes no
2 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
60
- Report
Autotechjasonb answered 3 years ago
Yes if you swap the computer wiring fuel tank fuel pump and lines it would run you also would have to put the evap system from the vortec o2 sensors probably get whole exhaust
Mark helpful
60
- Report
Autotechjasonb answered 3 years ago
The tbi uses low fuel pressure where the vortec has over 60 psi
1 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful
60
- Report
Autotechjasonb answered 3 years ago
Forgot you also would need the distributor timing cover the tone ring behind the balancer all the sensors are different it's alot of work but really not that bad would be easier to get a complete engine maybe a junker wreck with a good engine and take everything you need probably save some money
Mark helpful
10
- Report
Guru9W8PND answered 3 years ago
Hi I have 1997 GMC Sierra whit bad motor is 5.7 vortec and I found a 1994 5.7 motor the intake and heads from the 97 fits in the 94 motor thank you
1 people found this helpful.
Mark helpful