I just went through the thought-process of stuffing a Vortec short-block under TBI heads. In the end, I installed aftermarket aluminum heads because the TBI heads were damaged.
Using the "Vortec" short-block is easy. The Vortec short-block that I bought has the SAME casting number (880) on the block as the TBI engine I took out. The block is IDENTICAL except for a couple of machining differences--I had to drill a bypass hole into the water jacket to match the TBI water pump and water pump gasket on the right side of the block, and I had to drill and tap two holes for the two extra bolts that hold the TBI sheetmetal timing cover on.
Use the TBI damper to match the TBI timing cover/timing pointer.
Use Vortec pushrods to go with the roller lifters, dogbones, and spider. (Unless your heads have pushrod guideplates, in which case you'd need aftermarket hardened pushrods of the same length as the OEM roller-cam pushrods.)
Use the same oil filter adapter as the vehicle came with.
The Vortec oil pan, oil pump, and windage tray is the same as what was on my TBI engine.
Using the "Vortec" short-block is easy. The Vortec short-block that I bought has the SAME casting number (880) on the block as the TBI engine I took out. The block is IDENTICAL except for a couple of machining differences--I had to drill a bypass hole into the water jacket to match the TBI water pump and water pump gasket on the right side of the block, and I had to drill and tap two holes for the two extra bolts that hold the TBI sheetmetal timing cover on.
Use the TBI damper to match the TBI timing cover/timing pointer.
Use Vortec pushrods to go with the roller lifters, dogbones, and spider. (Unless your heads have pushrod guideplates, in which case you'd need aftermarket hardened pushrods of the same length as the OEM roller-cam pushrods.)
Use the same oil filter adapter as the vehicle came with.
The Vortec oil pan, oil pump, and windage tray is the same as what was on my TBI engine.