I'm trying to decide a winter project for my wifes 66 Chevelle Wagon. I have an 80 SB 400 out of a 3/4 ton truck. It was my dads and led a hard life. Or i found a complete long block 350 Vortec with about 70K on it. So what would be a better build up? Or i have been thinking of a LS1 swap using a 5.3 or 6.0 truck LS1. The 5.3 I hear is a sweet motor and some have gone cheaply on Ebay.
The 400 is free but needs machined and a good set of heads, rods, pisons etc. The 350 Vortec is supposed to need nothing except maybe I would go though it to be safe, but I'll still need an intake carb, etc. The wagon has a knocking/rattleing 283 2bbl but all the brackets are there with AC. I king of would like to keep them but that smooth EFI sound is sweet too. The 5.3 has 290HP on tap nice for a daily driver. The wife I don't think is fond of my snorting carbed 489 except the sound but the start and die and let it warm up in a negative to her. SO what to do. 350, 400, or LS1? or do the Vorteck and plan for a LS1 ZO6 graemlins/clonk.gif .
What heads and combo for a 400? I could do Votec heads on it but was thinking 190 or 200 cfm heads for it.

THanks. graemlins/beers.gif

A swap to a Gen 3 small block (5.3, 6.0. etc.) will require a new transmission,harness, ecm, fuel delivery system, fabricated engine mounts and more. Pretty big job....don't forget to bring your wallet. If it were me, I would build the 400 short block, throw away the 400 heads (they're probably cracked anyway)and put Vortec heads on it. If you want fuel injection, the GM Ram Jet set up is nice with the Vortec heads, I would contact Street & Performance for the harness and ecm. The end result would be an engine that is mild enough to drive every day, with AC and power brakes, but that would produce 400+ foot pounds of torque and 400+ horsepower. I just spec'd one of these out for a friend of mine who had Thomson Automotive in Redford MI machine and assemble it. His 400 is carbureted and is going in a '63 4x4 pick-up. The engine will have about 450 HP and 460 ft.lbs. with 9.6 CR and a little more cam than you probably want.

i'd go with the 400 for the wagon.
for whats its worth,
the guy i got my 400 block/crank from had a few 400's all done up. one had vortec's,he said 9.3ish CR, and a 230/280 cam. he showed me his dyno sheeet, at the flywheel it made 510TQ and 424HP. not sure what sort of dyno it was. he had another with AFR 190's on it but had no numbers on it. i'm personally using pro topline 200cc runner heads on my 400 build up.
good luck

To me, the only way to do the LS-1 swap is to buy a salvage car complete (say hit in the rear or side or roll over) they can be had for what the engine goes for on eBay and you have all the parts to start with. A buddy is doing this now with a '40 coupe and bought a 4500 mile '02 SS Camaro rollover for $4k complete. Put the entire running gear in the '40. But it still costs MORE than the $4k when done.