When I first started this website. I planned to replace the vortec engine, with one out of my safari van donor. Then I got a 1990 k1500.  I was going to shorten the frame and use the Tbi 350 in there. Which all was included on the dual fuel setup.

Now the plan is to use the vortec and get rid of all computers. The engine has one, the tranny has one and even the transfer case has one.

So to do that a carb and manifold plus hei distributor with a roller cam gear on the bottom would have to be installed.

The 700r4 out of the k1500 and the transfer case and front driveshaft would go into the Yukon frame as  well. I found out doing research I also needed a new flex plate and a spacer. The output on the vortec is .400 longer than on the TBI engine.

Jegs has one.

Now I needed a carb I remember a friend having a Rochester sitting outside his house in the weather it had been there for years. Got it for free.  But it is in bad shape. I also have one sitting in a an older camper van with a 350. I will pull that tomorrow to see what it is. Hoping for 704.

Jegs again had a manifold that was a very reasonable price. With good reviews price $149

I could use the TBI in the k1500 but that has a computer. I am anti computer. Do I think North Korea will send an EMP and wipe out every vehicle with a computer? Maybe but mostly I think they are a major point of failure. We depend on them too much. I know I am a computer tech.

Back to the conversion also needed to switch out the fuel pump apparently the stock Yukon pump send 65 pounds the carb needs six. I think i will probably invest in a fuel pressure gauge and mount that in the engine bay.

So now I am pulling the motor apart and getting it ready for the machine shop. they want a ton of money to hot tank and magnaflux. Magnaflux is neccesarry for the heads as vortecs are nototrious for cracking.

Now I looked into the whole hot tanking thing. A lot of people out there are just making their own hot tanks with chicken wire and baking soda.  I plan to do that and probably pressure wash the units.

That will take off about four hundred dollars off the machine shop bill. Now if I could find a decent price on the electromagnet for magnfluxing I would probably do that too. Then all I need is the powder and a turkey baster, and I am off to the races. This way I don’t have to send my heads away and pay someone to tell me they are cracked.

Now onto the machine work. I plan to remove the pressed in studs that hold the rocker arms. so the machine shop can tap the holes and put in threaded studs. I also learned the vortec heads . Need the area under the valve springs milled, so I can put in a cam with higher lift. Then the heads need surfacing.

The block. I need new pistons to go down with the block to the machine shop. so they can bore them to match the pistons. So back to jegs I go and research pistons. They will cost about $32 each. Now i need to total everything and see if it would just be cheaper to buy a crate vortec. So much research to do. I will fill you in as I go