I think where some of the confusion comes from is Chevy bringing out the V6 as a Vortec engine in earlier years. It was a Vortec in 1994, as was the 454 in 1994. Can't say as I've heard of the 350 referred to as a Vortec that year, but I'm going to do some research to see what comes up.
As for any engine being the "BBC of SBC", I'm not sure how that would be when they are all 350 engines, with the same bore and stroke.?? We all know that the bore and stroke is what makes each engine create it's torque, and the cam (among other things) sort of dictates at what RPM it will deliver max HP and torque.

 

From what I can find out, the bolts down the middle of the valve covers began in 1987, so they don't determine a Chevy 350 to be a Vortec. The Vortec was introduced in 1996, not any earlier; at least from my Motors Manual and the sources I could find.

 

i pulled a code off the front saying 81TKZ which states its a 350 in 1980. but i dont think its a vortec because its got the 12bolt pattern for the intake manifold. i think its a regular 350. or an improved version (gen 1) 350. there was from what i can tell a pre gen 1, gen 1, and up to like 5 or w.e being the LS series engines. but i think for what it is it can be a solid 350 block.. im having a crap time decoding this chevy. they didnt keep the codes great when they went to 17 digit

about the big block small block confusion. i meant the vortec engine is kinda the middle ground. they dont wind up like older SBC did and they made a ton of torque but they were a small block. they acted more like a big block but they were a small block. and i wana keep my project small block but if i can take this 350 engine im going to and im going to rebuild it into something nice.

 

I was going to say the same thing about the 4.3 V6 possibly causing the "older" Vortec confusion.
4.3 Vortec: 1985-
350 Vortec 1996-
BB 454 Vortec: 1996-
There were also other newer 4, 5, 6, and 8 cyl. Vortec engines, but we don't need to get into those.

 

"TKZ" is a truck engine, with a whopping 165 h.p. Just a regular Gen 1 engine style.
But, check the casting numbers off the heads. You never know if someone may have changed them once upon a time.

 

by the way i want to ask something to do with my camaro but i dont wana make a new thread. so help me out if yeah know..

my tie rod ends are crap and worn out and vibrating. would be 14$ a joint so its not SO bad. but my dads 70 camaro is right there. he said i can borrow his center link the whole steering rack including tie rod end joints. that have seen low mileage and im sure are in better condition. we dont got the cash right now and i would love to just use them as a temp and get some use out of them for a few and then buy my self and my dad new tie rod ends and so forth.

his front end is missing a ton he got stolen in the 80s so its only floating right now on the idler arm 2 bolts the tie rod ends are out of the the hub carrier and the whole unit including the steering arm can drop out and i can install in a few hours on my car.

question is are they identical?

im almost positive you can reinstall a tie rod end and i got a torque wrench and a book with all the specs so im going do it right but i dont see why i shouldn't run on a lightly used front end like that for a little bit. its go to be better than mine and hes ok with it and if they are identical i want to go about this swap. its because of money and i dont currently have a job. and also i dont like waisting parts than can be used like that. hes going to do a nice new sub frame with a steering rack like the newer cars anyways so hes fine with the swap.

 

sweet. is there a diffrence between the TKZ engine block and a LT1 350 block (older not the 1996 TA/camaro LT1. or is a 350 a 350?

 

also. they wont swap. i just did a cross reference on summit and the tie rod ends changed over in 1975 to a beefer different #/ sized one but the center link is the same so im just going to do a project from someone i know and get a few $ for new tie rod ends.

 

The old LT-1 was from 1970-72. In 1970, it had solid lifters, a hi-perf. cam, higher comp. ratio (11:1), and an aluminum intake. 71-72 (start of the smog years), c.r. was down to 9:1. Physically, the blocks are pretty much the same. It's how they're put together that makes the big difference.

 

ok so if you took this truck block. and a LT1 block from the 70s. did identical cam lifter piston/heads? just made 2 identical engines they would be identical?