So, that's what we set about doing with our 65,000-mile '96 5.7L Vortec engine ... so putting even a quarter of those funds into your Vortec 350 engine could get you where you want to be.

Also intriguing is a complete '96 to '02 L31 truck and van 350 Vortec engine (PN 12530282). This engine already has the right heads, plus it uses a hydraulic roller cam. Replace the mild cam with ...

The cams ground for our carbureted Cheap 350 engine just have too much ... Starting in '96 with the introduction of Vortec heads, GM instituted a weird hybrid system known as sequential central ...

However, one GM platform big block Vortec engine held its own. The Vortec 8.1 (also known as the Vortec 8100 or 496) stayed in production for heavy-duty GM vehicles all the way until 2007.

An engine swap can be quite costly, so putting even a quarter of those funds into your Vortec 350 engine could get you ... about doing with our 65,000-mile '96 5.7L Vortec engine.