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Small Block Chevies... Vortec, LT1, LS1, LS6, etc...

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I have some random questions about the when and what of the changes to the small block as the Vortec, LT1, and LS designs rolled out... I'll toss them out randomly, although they are, of course, all cosmically intertwined. /forums/images/graemlins/1zhelp.gif

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What year did the Vortec 305/350 debut?

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What was different about the Vortec as opposed to the TBI block? I know about the EFI changes, but it seems like I recall the block and/or heads changed slightly. Water pump and front block face maybe???

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When did the Vortec engines get replaced with the LS-Style blocks, like the 5.3L, 5.7L, and 6.0L Vortecs? What year in trucks, and did vans change the same year or did the older block live longer in the vans???

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The LT1... A car thing I know... But when the LT1 came out it was significantly different than the old SBC. It had a completely different front block face, and the reverse flow cooling made significant changes to head and block passages. Did the Vortec engines use the LT1 block, or were they the old 'Tried and True' block style that older parts would interchange with???

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Are the LS-style engines iron blocks in the trucks? What are their actual engine designations, like the LS1 and LS6 are different engine configurations for cars... What about the truck designations?

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Do any of you have any of the above engines lying around that you would like to give me??? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
1. 96 in the c/k trucks
2. dont know about the block but it has Vortec heads which flow great for a stocky
3. 99 for trucks dont know about vans though
4. not the lt-1 block
5. I know the 6.0L is all aluminum dont know about 5.3 or 4.8
 
6.0 is cast iron block/aluminum head IIRC, 4.8/5.3 are all aluminum (I'm pretty sure)

The significant changes for the Vortec motors were the factory roller cams. Cars got them all the way back to '87, but they were not used in trucks across the board until 1996.
 
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I have some random questions about the when and what of the changes to the small block as the Vortec, LT1, and LS designs rolled out... I'll toss them out randomly, although they are, of course, all cosmically intertwined. /forums/images/graemlins/1zhelp.gif

AR15firing.gif
What year did the Vortec 305/350 debut?

'96 model year as stated above

AR15firing.gif
What was different about the Vortec as opposed to the TBI block? I know about the EFI changes, but it seems like I recall the block and/or heads changed slightly. Water pump and front block face maybe???

Mostly the fuel injection system. The Vortec heads use a different intake mounting bolt pattern than any other small block head.

AR15firing.gif
When did the Vortec engines get replaced with the LS-Style blocks, like the 5.3L, 5.7L, and 6.0L Vortecs? What year in trucks, and did vans change the same year or did the older block live longer in the vans???

Gen 3 engines appeared in trucks for the '99 model year (4.8, 5.3 and 6.0l displacements). Vans carried over the old small blocks for a while.

AR15firing.gif
The LT1... A car thing I know... But when the LT1 came out it was significantly different than the old SBC. It had a completely different front block face, and the reverse flow cooling made significant changes to head and block passages. Did the Vortec engines use the LT1 block, or were they the old 'Tried and True' block style that older parts would interchange with???

Vortec truck small blocks used a normal old style SBC block casting. The LT1 block is not really much different either. The water pump was driven by the camshaft, but the pump mounting to the block is the same as other SBC engines.

AR15firing.gif
Are the LS-style engines iron blocks in the trucks? What are their actual engine designations, like the LS1 and LS6 are different engine configurations for cars... What about the truck designations?

All the Gen 3 truck engines (4.8, 5.3 and 6.0) used cast iron blocks until the 5.3 engine that is installed in the new extended Trailblazer/Envoy. All 4.8s and 5.3s used aluminum heads from the start, but the early 6.0 engines used cast iron heads. I believe all the heads are aluminum now. All pickup truck engines still use cast iron blocks. Not sure on the engine RPO codes off hand, but you can get them at GM Powertrain web site.


AR15firing.gif
Do any of you have any of the above engines lying around that you would like to give me??? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif



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I beg to differ my dad as a 6.0L and its all aluminum but its also out of the denali truck which is a different setup than normal 6 liters
 
The LT1 block uses 6 bolts to mount water pump! not 4 like old school blocks.
 
nah, the old school LS6 was the souped up 454 that came in chevelles back in the early 70's i believe...

The new LS6 is a slightly re-designed and more powerful LS1. They put the LS6 in the new Z06 corvettes.
 
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I beg to differ my dad as a 6.0L and its all aluminum but its also out of the denali truck which is a different setup than normal 6 liters

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No, it's not all aluminum. Both the LQ4 and LQ9 6.0l engines have cast iron blocks and aluminum heads. There has never been a 6.0l Gen 3 engine with an aluminum block. Go to GM Powertrain web site , or look a little closer at your dad's truck.
 
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I beg to differ my dad as a 6.0L and its all aluminum but its also out of the denali truck which is a different setup than normal 6 liters

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it's not all aluminum. Both the LQ4 and LQ9 6.0l engines have cast iron blocks and aluminum heads. There has never been a 6.0l Gen 3 engine with an aluminum block. Go to GM Powertrain web site , or look a little closer at your dad's truck.

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I believe you, just listened to what my dad said and like always WRONG AGAIN /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
4.8 and 5.3 are iron block (excpet for the 5.3 in the ssr)
ls1/ls6 are 5.7 and all aluminum
6.0 is iron block
 
LT1 uses the waterpump above the distributor and is cam driven..

LS6 is the new corvette z06 engine.. LS-6 was the 454 big block rated at 450 hp..
 
ls1 and ls6 use 2 diffrent blocks kind of
all 97-99 ls1s used the ls1 blocks
some 00-02 ls1s recived ls6 blocks
all 00-02ls1s recived ls6 intakes
All ls6s came in the z06 vette with ls6 heads (cathedreal shaped ports)
the 6.0 as well as the 4.8 and 5.3 are all LSx based, parts are interchangable, heads intake cam ect.
6.0 also came with ls6 style heads but bigger combustion chambers, and are the hot ticket for FI guys
 
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