350 Gen 1 into Gen 3

[76Charlie]

Will the shortblock of a gen 1 or gen 2 350 work in a gen 3 truck? as far as accecories and vortec heads etc.

[hopelessredneck]

are your going with original intake??

[76Charlie]

No any intake that fits the vortec heads. Im more concerned with accecories, trans bolting, plugs for sensors, I basically just want to use my 76 block as a shortblock for the 97 burb

[misternash2]

gen 1=standard old small block chevy
gen 2=so called LT engine. "lt1"
gen 3=so called LS engine. "ls1" <-late model

i'm pretty sure the heads will bolt up, as long as you use new heads and intake. what i'm not sure of is if there's much of an issue standard (gen1) cooling (block then heads) a reverse cooled (gen 2) set of heads. i'm not sure, but i could see a potiential issue there. hope someone else can chime in and help you out.

[Zoomad75]

Actually you are going backwards running an earlier 350 block vs the 97 vortec. The vortec block is equipped with a factory roller cam. If you were trying to keep the vortec style CPI injection, the older 350 block won't have the provisions for the crank sensor. If you use the Vortec heads the later style serp belt accessory drive would still bolt up.

If your 97 block bit the dust, I'd suggest looking for a decent used short block to build up from.

[beamn7]

Not to mention the dipstick will be on the wrong side too...... could interfere with the manifolds.

[BigBlocksRule]

If all you're using is the shortblock, it might work. Double check to make sure that a Vortec timing cover will fit and seal, we had a helluva time getting one to seal on a throttle body block, couldn't say about the older ones.
You're giving up cheap hydraulic roller lifters. With all the troubles folks are having with flat cams due to very little or no zinc and phosphorous in new oils, one flat cam will cost you more than the entire conversion.
As cheap as Vortec shortblocks are, I'd reconsider. Depending on mileage of the old shortblock, it may need machining anyway...