Thread: 1989 Gen 1 ~ Interchange Questions

Tweet

New to the site, I've been wrenching 20 years but not much 350 experience.

Thru searching here it looks like I have bought a revised Gen I block..

Engine from a 1989 Suburban TBI 350
going into a 1984 inboard Dixie ski boat (counter rotation).

So far I've found that revised Gen 1 means: 1 piece crank seal, different exhaust manifold bolt spacing at head, different intake bolt (angle in the center holes / not confirmed) hydraulic roller cam/provisions.


My (3) questions are related to building with some of my 1984 parts. My 1984 is 700 hrs but froze and cracked the block / welding brazing repair failed.



1. Can I install non roller lifters and non roller cam in the 1989 motor?
What changes will I need to make?


2. Can I install or modify to install my 84 Gen 1 Edelbrock Performer intake.
What changes will I need to make?


3. Can I run my 1984 Exhaust manifolds, Will the bolt holes line up? Is this a 7 bolt head? If not can I modify it to work with my new $400 boat manifolds.


Bringing motor home tomorrow ~ Working on a build plan today.

Answer to question #2 from page 8 here...

Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

Slotting the intake holes to fit the late modle gen 1 heads is a very simple task that about anyone can do.

The four middle intake bolts go in at a 72 degree angle verses pre-87's 90 degree angle.. That's the only ones that need modifying.

The holes are in the same place, just the angles of the the 4 center holes are slightly different.


I've done this mixing and matching many times---especially pulling the TBI intakes off the 80's Camaros and going with a regular intake and carb.

Originally Posted by camaro_fever68

Do not hog out the holes, elongate them to change the angle. A little bit of careful metal removal is all that's needed. When done right, the holes are not wider, just longer.

When using the late intake on early heads, I don't use a wedge washer. I grind the throttle body side of the bolt boss down a little until the bolt and washer fits flat. There is plenty of meat there to work with.

When doing the early intake on a late heads swap, a wedge must be used because you have no boss on the ealy intakes to work with.

if you change out the timing set roller lifters cam hold down plate push rod you can put a flat lifter cam in a roller block

Thanks Pat, It is nice to know I have that option.


As I read thru the volumes of Chevy small block tech (on page 13 now)

I am seeing that placing a flat tappet in a roller block is backwards of the performance trend.

My delima is I need to run my counter rotation engine (marine cam) and I only find (2) cam choices available on the competitoin ski boat parts site. Gen 1 early / and Vortec LS

They offer a roller cam for the later modle vortec motors. Will the Vortec (LS) cam work in the late gen 1 block? (I'm thinking No)

Otherwise I do not find a counter rotation roller cam available for the later modle Gen 1.

no the ls is not going to work. you could call Howards cams .or Erson cam see if they could grind you rev rot cam in a roller i would look in to that.