[gnrlewis]

I AM NOT SURE WHAT I NEED TO PURCHASE TO INSTALL 97 350 VORTEC MOTOR TO TRANS & TRANSFER CASE IN MY 1981 CHEVY 4X4. I HAVE A COMPLETE 97 PICKUP TO GET PARTS FROM BUT ITS NOT A 4X4. I AM NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF COMPUTER ETC. THAT I NEED TO GET OR IF THE ONE I HAVE WILL WORK. I HAVE COMPLETE 97 TRUCK(FUEL TANKS, PUMPS,SENSORS ETC.)

[MAHRKEAU]

The Vortec Will Pretty Much Bolt Right In. You Will Need To Use The Flexplate (Or Flywheel) That Came With The Vortec As All SBC's With One Piece Rear Main Seals (Also 4.3) Are Externally Balanced And The Bolt Pattern Is Also Different. Just Make Sure It Is In Good Condition Before You Go In With It! Personally I Would Rather Not Screw With The Computer And All That Especially Since You Are Retrofitting Into An Older Truck. Edelbrock Makes Intake Manifolds That Bolt Onto Vortec's And Allow The Use Of A Carburetor. Any SBC HEI Will Bolt In, (Make Sure Its A Vacuum Advanced HEI.) If You Use The Accessory Drive Belts/Pulleys/Alt./P/S Pump From The '81 (It Was SBC, Right?) You'll Need The Appropriate Water Pump. **Serpentine Belt Driven Systems Usually Use A Reverse Rotation Water Pump!** Don't Mix The Two! Also The Vortec May Or May Not Be Drilled And Tapped For A Mechanical Fuel Pump/Fuel Pump Pushrod. If It Is You Can Install A New Push Rod And Pump, Plus You Will Need That Fuel Pump Backing Plate. If Not You Will Have To Incorporate An Electric Pump And Regulator. (Most Carbs Only Need 4-6 Lbs. Pressure.) Exhaust Should Bolt Right Up. All In All A Rather Straight Up Swap. You Could Use The Vortec EFI Etc. But You Would Have To Have A High Capacity Pump And A Stand Alone Conversion Harness Among Other Things.It Can Be Done, I Wouldn't Do It. It's Hard To Beat A Well Tuned Q-Jet Or Edelbrock Equipped SBC Especially On A Dollar For Dollar Basis! MW