General Motors has introduced a new version of its iconic 350 V8 that is intended to serve as a low-cost replacement engine for older GM trucks and vans.
The GM Service 350 V8 is built around a brand new four-bolt block with new cylinder head and block castings, a forged steel crankshaft, new valve covers, CNC-machined cylinder heads and block castings and a new oil pan and timing cover, among more. A GM Genuine Parts product, the Service 350 V8 is backed by a 3-year/100,000 mile limited warranty.
The engine will be available in the following variants:
- Gen 1 (for 1987-1995 GM trucks, vans and SUVs)
- Gen 1e LD (for 1996-2002 GM light-duty trucks)
- Gen 1e HD (for 1996-2002 GM heavy-duty trucks)
Certain 350 cubic inch V8s available to purchase from GM Genuine Parts are remanufactured engines based on older repurposed 350 blocks. This new GM Service 350 V8 is all-new and features no remanufactured components, ensuring reliability and longevity. There is no core charge on these engines, either, unlike many remanufactured motors.
“Building on the history and versatility of the original 350 first available in Chevrolet models such as the Camaro and Corvette, this engine continues to deliver,” GM propulsion manager, Andrew McKittrick, said in a statement. “Every GM Genuine Parts engine incorporates our very latest engineering technology and product enhancements to offer a reliable and dependable product for our customers.”
This engine is available to order from certified GM dealerships or via genuinegmparts.com. GM did not provide pricing, however it already offers a similar new replacement 350 V8 service engine for $2,807 USD, which may provide some indication as to how much this motor may sell for.
GM says its new service engines offer customers “greater assurance that they’re a mirror image of the original engine, not products of reverse engineering or mere approximations of original quality and specifications.”
The GM Service 350 V8 is available to purchase now.
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Comments
I’m a Ford guy but this has got to be the best overall V-8 ever. Congrats to GM!
Good news. Wonder if it fits the 5.3 hole and accessories?
Dependable engines, but my 97 was pretty weak – only something like 230hp. I wonder if these pump out a bit more.
A 97 truck? Those were Vortec 350’s and they made 255-260 HP. If it’s an F-body those LT1’s made 285 from the factory.
The F-body LT1 350’s with later designed, better flowing iron heads actually made more power than the aluminum head ‘Vette versions… but rated lower for marketing purposes…
I’m excited to see GM will continue offering a new 350 crate motor for the near future. Our family farm uses 6 1990 to 1994 GM pickups and its nice to have the option of a all new motor with a warranty to keep these trucks working hard for us. All but one have their original engines but the day is coming…..
I’ve had several sbc in the past and had no luck with the 350s. The 283 and 327s were much better so idk what all the hype is about. But whatever floats your boat I guess!
I had Chevrolet trucks and cars for 50 years and never have one break down a good excellent engines in them the big blocks in the small blocks straight Six Chevrolet is the best in the whole world.
You are the only guy on the planet then.
My above response was for Albert L, saying he had no luck with 350’s. This format doesnt make clear who you respond to.
What if you have a 78 Chevy. Any new replacements for that?
They will fit just need a new intake manifold.
The Gen.1 version might use the same intake manifold…
They’re literally all the same same basic engine. How you’d have bad luck with only one is a mystery. Going from a 3 inch to a 3.25 inch (with a 4 inch bore) to a 3.48 inch stroke isn’t going to worsen the reliability. The rpm/torque bands shift is about it.
The only SBC that ever was hit and miss is the 400. And that was only because the bore literally almost got too big for the block and caused cooling issues.
Regardless, this is great news. It would be nice if they did this with the 383 too.
There were some cooling issues with the 400 Chevy blocks because of the Siamese bores. As a standard engine they’re fine but for performance there are some modifications that can make the engine run cooler. After market brand engine blocks for the 400’s are made with an improved design for reliability in cooling and strength.
A big problem was folks putting on heads and/or head gaskets without the steam holes that the 400 block had and the other SBC variants did not when they were rebuilt or had maintenance.
ED, You are %100 correct. Very few people back when this engine was popular, realized the heads were different than 350 heads. It was a simple thing, but lots of guys put after market heads on the 400 block, and had nothing but problems. I had two 400 engines, one a 1976 and one was a 1977. Nite and day between the two years. GM got cheap and the ’77 didn’t last a year. If you want to hot rod the 400, get a 1976 or earlier. Later.
The hype is about a super reliable engine at not much more than a reman price. Damn, I’m so over listening to wanna be engine gear heads!! We have installed no less than 18 of the GM Vortec L31 Crate engines in the past 3 years in trucks, cars and boats with perfect results. The part number is now changed, which means nothing. { Yeah I know…. it’s not meant for marine, give a 1 year warranty and go for it. If you want a well built 350 to replace your 99 & up 5.7 Mercruiser, this is it!!!,. Sorry GM but this engine when installed correctly, serves MANY uses. 283s and 327s, they served the world well, time now to move on.
It’s not just a new intake, even for the ’88-95 replacement. Flywheel/flexplate is different, and if GM was smart, it wouldnt be cast for a mechanical fuel pump.
The Vortecs definitely shouldn’t be setup for a fuel pump, the earlier L31 crates were not.
any mention of cost
“…cost”
About double what they were 2-3 years ago when they apparently last discontinued them. I paid 1800 for the L31, I see the LO5 (a far less optimum setup) is now almost $3k.
Honestly dont see them selling many at that price point. While remains are hit and miss, at 3k we will be putting machine shops back in business with rebuilds.
Nothing beats a chevy .
Ahhh..the legendary Chevy small block V8..simply iconic.
Will computer, fuel rail, and throttle body fit this 350 or , will I have to change up a lot of stuff ? IDK 🙄 Oh , and let’s not forget about the transmission and fuel mileage vs the 5.3 . I have a 99 model that beat the brakes off of 2010 ,2011,2012 2013, wit 288,000 original miles . Very good gas mileage and low low maintenance . 350 ? IDK 🙄
Preferiría un 454
Gm should Concentrate on making a good reliable transmission I have a GMC Canyon and a transmission is terrible right from day one and GM will do nothing about it
I’d like to see the 300 straight 6 come back for ford, and jeeps 4L strait 6 but those motors were bad for business because they last forever
Don’t forget the GM 292…another great engine
To me the best GM inline 6 was the good old GMC 302 CI one 52 to 60! But the 292 was great too!
What about the intake and fuel system? I hope like hell the engineers at GM get it right this time, they dropped the ball the last go round with the idiotic spider injection which was junk and why in the hell would you run the “injector lines” through the intake blocking air flow and costing not only power but fuel mileage also. While I’m at it 255 hp and 330 ft. lbs isn’t gonna cut it this go around, neither is the 15 or 16 mpg. If you want to impress me put a mechanical fuel injection system and a real cam, one like the Lt4 hot cam, add coil on plugs and trash the distributor because it was junk too. Now who’s got what to say?
I think you missed the point of this engine. It’s a factory replacement not a performance engine. You reuse the intake and distributor… it’s just an update of the L31-R they have offered for the last 20 years…
A DCT like the Corvette has that is strong for all of the aging cars and vans, is all that Chevy needs to add. Should be really easy. I supposed newer versions of tranny’s with Torque converters are good transmissions also. For trucks the tansmissions would have to be beefy enough. Tremec should be able to easily provide such a transmission to go with the venerable and great workhourse: the 350. AF I don’t know a lot about what Edlebrock makes, but it seems to me they offer a fuel injection system for the 350. Others have them too. Perhaps even the current engine could donate its fueling system to the replacement long block?
Hey if it were me just a good old GM HEI ignition and a good Quadrajet carb!
I see the world is not truly finished if they are still making beautiful V8 s! Bravo GM!
I’ve had Chevrolet trucks and cars for 50 years and never had one break down Chevrolet Make excellent engine big block and small block and straight sex never had a problem with them. Chevrolet is the best in the world.
Agreed! And I’m all about straight sex! LOL
My problem with this engine is it maintains the idiotic stock two-piece intake that lead to the death of my engine by allowing coolant into the oil, which is a problem GM has long acknowledged, but done nothing to help us consumers who believed in them. When the diagnosed “self-destruction” happened, they should have offered this motor to those of us who lost an engine, at half price. Real problem? The problem still isn’t fixed!
The problem is the intake gasket. GM/ACDelco, felpro, Victor reinz/Mahle all have a redesigned gasket to fix the issue. GM released their revised gasket in 2003… they all still offer the original design which is what you will most likly get if you ask at the parts counter. you need to do your research not just buy the cheapest part…
This was a problem with original design. In 1998, when I bought my K1500 Suburban, I had not heard any of the horror stories about the Vortec. I never touched the engine other than normal maintenance and had complete engine failure, due to coolant in the engine oil. Not what I expected from a then $50K vehicle. This happened to me, so it is a bit personnel.
The intake is not two pieces. I believe you are talking about the intake gaskets. I’ve rebuilt dozens of these engines and never had any issues with them if they are installed correctly.
I understand what you are saying, but the fact is MY original motor only made it close to 100K and self destructed due to coolant in the oil. Did the factory not install it correctly? There is much info about this problem “from the factory” out there. Thanks for info though. It is indeed a two piece intake. Order one…
There are at least three different intake gaskets out there. Why the original design is even still made I dont know. Like you, even those of us dealing with retrofit L31s dont know about it unless WE do the digging to find out why all the different intake gaskets exist. It is definitely a known potential issue. Fortunately not every engine suffers the same fate, but that doesnt make you feel any better! It wasnt something that happened because GM cut corners, which is usually the reason. It’s just that the gasket design (original being a composition/silicone design iirc) doesnt always hold up long term. Probably not an issue GM noticed during design and testing as the problem doesnt seem to be based on anything other than random bad luck.
Hank Dewald,
Exactly. Its not the intake manifold though. It was the crappy intake gasket design. It was also an issue on the 60*V6 engines like the 3100, 3400 and 3800 as well as the 350 based 4.3.
The 4L60E in my 97 Express van made it to 38K miles and was out of warranty by age.The GM Serta 4L60E made it another 40K at which point I dropped a 4L85E into its place. The 350 Vortec made it to 57K and hydraulic locked on cold startup after sitting a couple of weeks back in 2004. The Hecho en Mexico replacement always burned oil and ate itself at about 50K due to poor machining tolerances in the Mexico plant. I have a Dart SHP block 400 small block with aluminum heads and fiber intake gaskets with a L31 marine intake sitting on the stand to go into its place.
Will NEVER buy a new GM again.
This is a long block. Not a complete engine, thus no intake. How this works on a 1987-1995 is beyond me, the intake ports and bolt pattern are wrong. Hopefully they annotate that for buyers.
that is why they have 3 versions
I think that info was added on later. Or I missed it because I’m using a phone. In any case, 3k for a TBI engine is about double what they were when they were discontinued.
😂😂😂 not such a big deal
The 350 has always been a very realiable motor. In fact, I wish GM would go back to that motor in the newer trucks and update the motor with modern technology and replace the 5.3 with the 350 instead in my opinion.
Amen. The 5.3 has had problems for years. (AFM Anyone) I’m with you. Build the 350 to work in the newer trucks, and get rid of the “new Tech”. Also I’ve had the 400 in two trucks. One was in my 1976 Silverado 4×4 stepside. It’s still running. The second, was in my 1977 Chevy G20 Van. Thats when they went to the corp “Blue” engines. That one didn’t last a year! Spun a main bearing. Had to wind up using it as a boat anchor. Too much damage to the block. So, yes and no on the 400’s. Just gotta get a 1976, or older, with the proper heads. Then it won’t over heat.
I wonder if they’ll burn 2 quarts of oil between oil changes like their current engine.
I’ve been a Chevy guy ever sence I can remember. That was all my parents owned growing up. Dad had a 64′ impala ss with a 327 backed by the 2 speed power gilde transmission. Well anyways I am a chevy guy always have and always will rhe small block 350 was one if the best engines that they put in anything. And why they stopped making it is beyond me. But they shouldn’t have. Lovw GM
I’ve been running a 1966, 327/350 hp in my 32 Chevy for 50 years still running strong. Best small block ever.
True 350 LT1 , were bullet proof back in the days , when we used to build them in our speed shop ..
I have a 96 3500 with 24,000 miles on it. For the most part it’s in showroom condition. Love the truck but wish it had more horsepower. Been thinking about building an engine. Any recommendations?
383 crankshaft/pistons… little bigger cam…
I have a 91 Chevy Cheyene C1500. 475000 miles. The valve covers have never been off the engine. However, I AM on my third flex plate, 2nd transmission, water pump…5th or 6th starter…The 350 TBI engine itself is reliable as a hammer. If you check out the playlists on My YOUTUBE channel (LLRT32) you”‘ll find videos of my truck.. The Truck is just a reliable old dog, that only asks for occasional attention.
Very interesting. I have a question: Does this engine fit into a 1980 chevrolet caprice classic? this car comes with a similar engine from manufacturer.
“Does this engine fit into a 1980 chevrolet caprice classic?” It would physically fit, but youd have to get a new intake, probably run an electric fuel pump, and on and on. The 195hp older truck engine with two piece rear main seal would be an easier swap, albeit with less power.
Wow this is sweet. I’m current in an F150 but I would have loved to replace the 5.7 in 1997 Z71 with this. Hmmm, maybe I should start checking Craigslist to see if I can find a new project.
GM bring back the 327cid engine!!!
“GM bring back the 327cid engine!!!”
Why would they do that? The current 5.3 LS is close in terms of displacement, and the SBC 327 can never match the performance of a SBC 350.
Despite all the new electric vehicles, its great to know GM is not abandoning its gasoline vehciles.
Are these gonna retain the 255hp/330ft lbs of the original vortec 350? The 5.3 at the end of the first gen run had 295/335. Surely they could add a few updates to this new 350 to get it into the 300hp/375 ft lbs range to make it more appealing, especially for the HD guys.
“Surely they could add a few updates to this new 350 to get it into the 300hp/375 ft lbs range to make it more appealing”
They do, there are multiple small block based engines with increasing levels of power offered by GM Performance (GMPP).
These are replacement engines. Take the old one out, drop these in, everything fits and works as it did when original. No worries about too much power for the trans, no worries about reprogramming the ECM/PCM due to different engine characteristics, etc. If stock power is “good enough” for your needs, and reliability and cost is an overarching concern, stock replacement crate engines are it.
If you need more power, GMPP offers a significant number of crate engines that do so. But divide the cost by the HP of a few of them. You’ll quickly see why the 255hp L31 crate is such a good deal and why “good enough” often wins the day.
I have a 1994 GMC 4×4 5.7 , 350 motor , it’s been a great truck but I’d like more HP , Does GM make a replacement motor a crate motor if u will , please let me know , I can take the original motor out & rebuild it but id like a create motor .
12703983 is the part number for the L05 TBI engine.
Search that part number on ebay and you will find them sold by Radley Chevrolet. I and many others have purchased crate engines from them. Good customer service, generally best prices. Hint: call them direct and see if they can sell you one cheaper without using ebay. Unfortunately anymore, these crate engines are cheaper than rebuilding a crate engine.
I would not go aftermarket, the rebuilders are all questionable. Also, replace it with the L05. TBI does not “learn” if you put an engine in with different parts than OEM (Headers, intake, cam, etc) so it will not run properly. It may run, but there is a difference between running, and running properly.
5.3 is 331 ci, close enough to 327, with more hp!
ZZ4. Google it. Unless you have a boat. This is what you want.
the 350 had the most option you could get on any engine ever in history of the world WHY? it was dirt cheap our 350 and many other who had it will tell you that even the 325hp rated 350 was a slow gutless dog that broke at 90,000 miles. i worked in a shop i have 20 years exp. i know for a fact that engine is a big pile of junk. 4 bolt or 2 bolt main and all. my uncles ford 351 is 48 years old still runs with 390,000 miles on it. its 235hp engine blows 325hp chevy 350 away. say what you want chevy freaks 350 is and never will be worth a $. you cant tell me its not im a technician i have rebuilt them 100 times over vs a dodge or a ford…….. why would gm bring it back they have engine now 10000s times better why because they dont make there own engines anymore. long live Vauxhall savior of GM
You sir really don’t know what you are talking about. The Gen 1 SBC was and is one of the most reliable engines ever built. Well maintained they will easily go over 250K miles before a rebuild, some even much more. They are easy to work on and will remain a staple of the hot rodding world for many decades to come. And Vauxhall? Really, so great GM dumped them along with Opel as they were not making any money.
Go try and race a ford in circle track. Lol. Good luck finding one person running one. And good luck winning with one.
Where are they made and casted? Not north america lol
“Where are they made and casted? Not north america lol”
The crate L31 (Vortec 350 long block) I got from GM two years ago was cast in Mexico.
I HOPE GM has not shifted casting and forging overseas, but seeing as more and more GM parts are being made in China, it’s certainly a possibility.
Gm is still hanging on the the only thing they ever did right and that’s only because it appeals to the simplest of grease monkeys. Having or putting a 350 in a rebuild custom ride basically says “I’m willing to settle with mediocre at best with minimal efforts” lucky for GM, our government is always there to bail em out .. However real American. Auto makers will continue to out perform these General/ basic, V8’s with smaller 5.2 and 5.0 ltr engines that are so far out of their league that is not even fair. And don’t get me started with the ecoboost and its power, reliability, torque and unmatched performance with half the cubic inches.
As soon as I heard about this I went straight to a GM dealer. As soon as they told me the prices I wanted to say get out of town. Over $5,000 for the base entry and a little over $7,000 for the fully dressed turnkey. Not to mention the core charge. Although a new gen 1 block is cool. 7k is a little steep for 385 ponies when you concidered what’s on the market by credible builders.
Guys, there are literally dozens of fuel injection or carbuettor intakes that can be bolted on these engines as well as simplefied bolt-on ignition systems. At this price, you are getting a small block with a four bolt main bearing block and heads direct from GM. I have modified and built many higher performance engines for cars and boats from this design. Been turning wrenches professionally for forty years. This can be a basic building block for almost any application.
I think most here know that. Why GM stopped selling these engines a couple years back, and has now reintroduced them with a price tag double what it was three years ago, is the real question. We are back to the point where machine shops will be a cheaper option than a crate base engine.
I guess it all depends on the quality of the parts the machine shop installs and their craftmanship. If your engine doesn’t need any major parts and the machine shop is very thorough, maybe the shop is the best way to go. But if your engine is toasted, I would opt for the crate. Lets blame the price hike on Covid 19, it’s being used as an excuse for everything else isn’t it????
GM did a big 50-100% jump in parts prices after the bankruptcy…
Stock crate engine parts would be the lowest quality parts we would use in a rebuild… usually we go a little to a lot higher in quality…
I have a 2000 Silverrado with 301000 miles on it
changed oil every 5000 miles and have note burned a quart if oil
Still running great