Technical GM Vortec Industrial Engines

I have been offered a GM Vortec industrial engine at a really good price, this engine was fitted to a big generator but removed before it was ever fired up and replaced with a diesel engine. So this engine is brand spankin for 200 bucks but what do I need to change to use it in my hot rod ? it hard a big industrial odd looking water pump so that would have to go, it has cast iron heads - other than that I don't know too much about it.
can anyone help ? thanks in advance

 

I rebuilt and used one out of a boat in my 23, and essentially you will have to do what I did. I stripped all the marine parts off and got down to a basic sbc long block. You can do the same, because under all the weird stuff is just a Chevy motor.

Cam profile is probably somewhat truck like to top out at maybe 4500 rpms, but a cam change is no big deal. The heads alone are worth more than the $200 bucks. There will be some numbers cast on the block to tell you which Vortec it is, the later ones are more desirable. Does it have an 8 bolt intake manifold ?

Don

 

cheers Don - someone told me they are a roller cam ? same person also told me the cast iron heads are no good and they give major valve spring trouble ?
I have never had any dealings with these "new" motors so all a bit uncertain.
oil pan likely to be the same as a SBC passenger car engine ?

 

http://www.gmpowertrain.com/industrial/productportfolio.aspx

 

have used a few in "projects" ( lift truck ,boat , gen set, replaced tow truck engine ) they are a good motor the valve springs are iffy at best ( valve float is 4500 and lowers as times goes on ) , and the torque band a little higher than what we wanted and almost flat , so for the tow truck we changed out the cam and valve springs ( the heads in a street vehicle work good for low rpm torque ) and used a different FI manifold , the heads are induction hardened seats ( good for gasoline /lpg ( dryfuels ) we used the shortblock for a car and it holds up pretty dang well ( kids dragracing it in a dragster ) basically the motor is really designed to run at a continous one speed rpm like in a boat or generator . the industrial motors are nothing like the performance motors other than some parts . but a good strong foundation to start from , and yes they are roller cam style blocks we recieved a non roller motor , but the block was machined for it and had the big lifter flats ,( might been a change over ) but he rest were rollers and the cams were very mild

 

If your talking the 96 to 99 or whatever vortec, then the heads are pretty good in the low to mid lift area. There have been several test done with these heads against other gm performance heads that have came on engines. They do better than every other cast iron head gm has designed. The cast iron lt1 head might be better.

 

Without seeing exactly what you have my guess is that it would be a larger version of the old 4-cylinder Chevy II engine. When GM originally designed their 181 cubic inch industrial engine they took pistons and rods from one of the V8’s and made a very strong crank, block and 4-cylinder cam to make the engine. The head is probably an 8 port with everything on the left side. I have a Mercruiser Marine engine in my ’32 that is probably the same basic engine. One of the nice things is that it probably has the same bolt pattern in the back that makes it easy to attach a transmission. I bolted a ’39 Ford with an adapter up to mine. You can get a generator mount from a 4 or 6 from the early sixties and use a generator if that is the look you are after (that is what I did). A water pump from that era will probably bolt to the head. There is a large amount of data in the archives on the 4 cylinder Chevy II and these engines get referenced frequently. I am very happy with the one that I have had in my ’32 for the last 30 years. I agree with the comment about the cam having the wrong torque curve but most Chevy II cams should interchange. The only thing I would watch for is any changes they made from the automotive engine but I can’t think of any. How about some pictures?


Charlie Stephens

 

Buy the engine, post some pics and castings numbers so we can help you.

 

specs on the website says they are made in Mexico. GM goodwrench motors of the past were Hencho in Mexico and were not a long life engine.

 

For 200 bucks?,,it's a no brainier,it's a steal. HRP