invader motors?

[81k5]

Just like to say hello to everyone, I stumbled across this site and seems like there is a lot of good info here, so hopefully someone can help me out.

I have been searching for the last couple of days and all I can find is a site on the GMC Sprint in reagards to an INVADER 350. I just purchased a 350 invader on the weekend. I have never heard of one untill I saw it. From what I can gather they were made from 71-77 I believe, but thats all I can seem to find. So if anyone knows for sure what years they were made, what kind of horsepower they made, are they a good motor? Are they rare? Were they all 4 bolt mains(so I was told) or if you know of a link to a site it would be greatly appreciated. The fact that I cant seem to find anything on them really makes me think they are rare. Thanks

[Blazer1970]

"Invader" was the name that GMC used on all of their (Chevy) V-8 motors during that time period. It was just a sticker on the motor. I believe the Invader stickers were only used from '68 - '71. They are "rare" now because they were only used on GMC motors, and most of the stickers fell off or were covered with grime years ago.

[Longhorn Man]

Welcome to the board from Central ohio.
Blazer is right...nothing more than a chevy 350. 4 bolt or 2 bolt...either way.
Ge the numbers off the bellhousing, and off the machined pad up front in front of the passenger side head and we can tell you exactly what you have. If it is an early 70's engine, there is a good chance of it being a high nickle block.

[81k5]

Thanks guys

I will try to get the numbers off the block this week and see what I have. If its a high nickel block, I assume that it would be a much stronger or thicker block, or what makes it better if its high nickel?

Thanks

[Tom]

high nickles just means its slightly stronger. People make big deals out of 4 bolt bottem ends and high nickles blocks but they really aren't anything to get excited about.

[Longhorn Man]

high nickle blocks are quite a bit stronger against wear in the bore. I have seen 150,000 mile small blocks with so little ring wear that it wouldn't even catch your finger nail. The pistons came right out of that sucker, no ridge reamer needed.

[Blue Beard]

I had a 72 that had the Invader motor in it, and was stock.......

[Beefcake]

My 72' 3/4 ton GMC has a invader 350.

[bpmcgee]

Originally posted by Longhorn Man
high nickle blocks are quite a bit stronger against wear in the bore. I have seen 150,000 mile small blocks with so little ring wear that it wouldn't even catch your finger nail. The pistons came right out of that sucker, no ridge reamer needed.

I have to agree with Longhorn. Last summer we pulled the engine on a buddie's '76 corvette. It had 97K miles on a high nickel block, and we could still see the original cross-hatching of the bores -- amazing.

Brian

[Longhorn Man]

I was going to mention the cross hatch still being visable at 100K, but everyone says I am full of sh!t when i mention this.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Longhorn Man
I was going to mention the cross hatch still being visable at 100K, but everyone says I am full of sh!t when i mention this.

Nah. See it on roller 5.0's all the time.

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

My old ladys Hyundai had it at 175K. Still running strong

[sam's 72]

My brother in law has a 95 Taho with 296,000 miles on it, does not use a drop of oil between oil changes. This vehical is amazing to me. The tranny has never ever been out of the car/truck ( SUV ) He changes the oil evry 3000 miles

[81k5]

Hi there

So I was able to get some numbers off the block. There is a 010 on the inside at the rear, this I see would indicate a block cast with 2% more nickel(very good) On the drivers side rear ledge I found k0226TBC which would indicate a canada made motor assembled feb. 26, which year Im having trouble with, as well as the TBC suffix. There is also a M6 at the rear of the block near the top. On the passenger side of the block I found all different numbers and letters. There was an A 9 or 3 by itself, then below it a D-N. There was also a series of circles with a sort of pie peice cut out, what it looked like was (0 will replace the circle)
0100A0029, hopefully this makes some sense. Its late and Im tired and tomorrow I will see if I can make heads or tails of the numbers a little better. The other number is 3970010 which tells me 69-80 but id like to narrow it down a little more.

[Blazer1970]

1970 TBC 350 convfwd cabs, a/t 255 4 C-10 to 3500
1970 TBC 350 m/t, 3 spd 255 4 K-10 & 20
1979 TBC 350 conv. cab, m/t,fed L LS9 165 4 C-10 to 2500


I am sure yours will be one of the 1970 applications, especially if it is orange. I think they changed to blue by '79.

[81k5]

Thank you, for the info. The motor is orange, so I think its safe to assume having the 010 on the back of the block, being orange, and having the invader stickers would mean its right around 1970. Now because of the 010 on the rear, that would eliminate the 1979 version would it not?