engine identification help

[cherokeejohn]

hello all, can anyone tell me the info on this engine. I cant find the decoder . I have the opportunity to get this engine for free, along with the wire harness, ecm, and all other components but before i do, i would like to know the details to know if its worth rebuilding. if it aint a 4 bolt, I aint bothering. eng id number is 16093638. i will add this. this engine is currently in a 2000 C3500. i dont know if its the orig engine or a replacement. the truck was a county, utility bed truck

[Palf70Step]

I don't know of any that begin with 160. Could it be a 14093638? Being it is a 2000 model, if it is a small block it is probably a 350 roller cam model if original. It could be a 2 or 4 bolt main.

Only way I know is open it up. BTW, nothing wrong with 2 bolt mains unless you are wanting crazy HP or boosted applications.

[Warrens69GMC]

638 block, you need to pull the pan to check. They came in 2 or 4 bolt, roller in cars and non-roller in trucks.

The block has provisions for roller camshaft just not drilled and tapped.

[cherokeejohn]

thank ya fellas, i do know that most 3/4 and 1 tons came with 4 bolt mains. I'm not going for any crazy HP, but i will be doing a significant amount of towing with it, a enclosed 20' trailer , dbl axel with brakes, and a 24' dbl axel with brakes and sway system jay feather camper occasionally. the truck is the OBS body . to my knowledge, that is because it is a 3500, the 1500s and suvs were onto the NBS starting in 99.

[special-K]

They had both bodies available through 2000. I'd rather have the roller can with 2-bolt than 4-bolt w/o. Then again, if you'll be working on it the 4-bolt can be prepped for roller cam

[cherokeejohn]

ill definitely be giving the motor a rebuild and any upgrades reqd. I've been researching what all is needed to swap from CPI to carb. i already have my truck converted to a 12v in-line fuel pump, and HEI, ill be needing a vortec intake/carb, a timing cover and a plug to delete the CPS. found some really good info on here. i love this forum and the members. what is the definition of "Roller cam"? and how to tell if it is or isn't?

[MARKDTN]

I would keep it EFI. The Vortec 350 engines are quite impressive with torque. Sounds like you are getting all the parts anyway.

[MikeB]

Yes, it must be 14093638. If it came out of a C3500 truck, it almost certainly is a 4-bolt. I think the 1-piece main seal blocks in HD trucks used flat tappet cams only up to 1996 when the Vortec engines were introduced. So I'd guess it has a roller cam.

[Myself]

Yep, '96 and newer should ALL be roller cam...........BUT, there have been reports on various online forums of owners tearing into engines and still finding flat tappet. Likewise, there are reports of pre '96 tbi owners finding oe roller cams! Apparently it's sort of a hit and miss. On a '96-up 1 ton model, you're likely to find a nice HD block with 4 bolt mains, roller cam, and a nodular crank..........but not always!

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Myself

On a '96-up 1 ton model, you're likely to find a nice HD block with 4 bolt mains, roller cam, and a nodular crank..........but not always!

I forgot about those engines having a nodular iron crank. I used a 97 block for a build several years ago. It had a nodular iron crank as well as fittings for an oil cooler. I guess that means it would have come from a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

Like an idiot I sold the std/std crank and rods, and bought an entire balanced assembly from Eagle with cast crank and dished hypereutectic pistons. Wish I would have kept the crank and built-up the engine using SCAT rods and D-dish pistons.