Engine Life - Gen 1 vs...

[LostMy65]

I read somewhere that Fuel Injection and an Overdrive Transmission contributes much to why the 90's truck engines are good for so many miles.
If I put Fuel Injection and an Overdrive Transmission on my Gen 1 Newer Crate 350, could I expect to get comparable engine life out of it as perhaps an L31?

[geezer#99]

Possibly!
It’s actually the fuel injection that adds life.
Carbed engines tend to run too rich during warm ups and the rings wear faster due to fuel wash of the cylinders.
The gen 1’s were good for 100,000 miles.
Newer motors double that or more.

[sweetk30]

for most major points a L31 vortec engine is the same as a sbc older vintage .

the heads are better flow and roller cam are the 2 major upgrades i know of .

[Dead Parrot]

2nd on the FI helping. OD trans only helps if the rear end has the proper ratio so the OD still has the motor in the sweet torque range. You can get a setup where the motor is spinning too slow and lugging.

If you set your carb idle mix as lean as possible and still get a good idle, that will help as well. A lot of folks think a rich idle mix increases power. Also set the choke as lean as you can and still get a good start.

Some of the improvement is better oil, ignoring the whole zinc/cam/lifter issue. A lot of the Gen 1 motor trucks existed in a time when single weight oil was still highly recommended and multi-weight was the new kid on the block. Guessing a lot of motors reached highway speed still running 40w summer oil when it was winter and 10*.

Gas is cleaner burning as well. Used to be lucky to get 10k on a set of plugs. Even the ethanol additive burns clean, it just has other issues.

[garyd1961]

I believe another thing the L31 has is low tension rings which wears the block a lot less than the old style rings. I have seen motors (Toyotas but with low tension rings) with 200,000+ miles on them torn down and the cylinder walls looked like the day the car was built. They just install new rings without touching the block and the motors run like new.

[GASoline71]

I have ran 2 1st gen 350's deep into the 300,000 mile range before "needing" to be rebuilt. Both were carbed engines their entire lives. One had a TH350 behind it, and the other an SM465.

I believe it's all in how these engine are cared for and proper maintenance done at the proper times.

Gary

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I have ran 2 1st gen 350's deep into the 300,000 mile range before "needing" to be rebuilt. Both were carbed engines their entire lives. One had a TH350 behind it, and the other an SM465.

I believe it's all in how these engine are cared for and proper maintenance done at the proper times.

Gary

So true Gary!
I bought a 76 impala with a 350. One owner.
Had 180000 miles on the motor.
Guy I bought it from had the bills to prove he changed the oil every 1000 miles. That motor was amazingly clean inside.
The motor was good, body not.
He got rear ended. Rear bumper pushed right up to the back window.

[LostMy65]

Thanks guys.