Vortec 350..

**SeVeReDiStOrTiOn** · 03-21-2009, 08:00 PM

Any you bastards know the weak/strong points of this motor? I'm looking at a 98 RCSB silvy Z71 with 87k on the clock tomorrow...this dodge is a POS and i'm bout done. I've owned a silvy with the 350 TBI but never with the vortec setup on a 350...only issue i've heard is the intake manifold tends to start pissin.

Dealer is asking around 10k for it...I won't pay more than 7.5 for it low miles or not.

**Daniel P.** · 03-21-2009, 08:23 PM

a friend of mine has that same truck in blue and 4x4. I absolutely love it he is nearing 150k mile with no problems with the motor or tranny

**Zapper2003** · 03-21-2009, 08:40 PM

whats wrong with your dodge?

**km346** · 03-21-2009, 08:43 PM

ive got 175k on my 97 K1500 with the vortec 350 and 4l60 tranny...owned it since it had 10k on it. still runs like a champ. Honestly ive put a lot of money into it to keep her running strong but its been worth it. I'm not easy on it either, did a lot of towing in the earlier years along with plowing every winter. I would scoop it up, these trucks will run to 200k easy.

PS my intake manny gaskets went at like 100k... the plastic retainers around the gasket get eaten up by the deathcool. i replaced mine with a felpro from auto zone, it has steal not plastic.

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 03-21-2009, 09:05 PM

Have '91 Z71, 485.000 miles, orig. motor no rebuild...
Have '95 Tahoe Z71 2DR, has 240,000 miles, orig. motor no rebuild....
Have '97 Tahoe Z71 4DR, has 210,000 miles, orig. motor no rebuild.....

Had 10+ of these trucks..... Motors are good, auto trans sucks.... will last if taken care of tho.... look out for the "quick Connect" Heater hose fitting, they are made of pot metal, and tend to break off in the intake.... MAJOR PITA..... Steering tends to need rebuild every 200k or so. They are Really great, durable trucks.

**km346** · 03-21-2009, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by FORD RECOVERY EXPERT

look out for the "quick Connect" Heater hose fitting, they are made of pot metal, and tend to break off in the intake.... MAJOR PITA.....

its funny you bring that up... i remember screwing with that when i first bought my truck. it was a nightmare trying to get the piece out of the intake. i went to the parts store and got a generic heater hose fitting to put in its place, been fine ever since.

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 03-21-2009, 09:14 PM

bought a drill bit, and 5/8" pipe thread tap, drilled correct size hole for tap, threaded said hole, and screwed in a "KC Nipple"

and Bam!!! fixed.

**BADASS2000SS** · 03-21-2009, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by SeVeReDiStOrTiOn

Any you bastards know the weak/strong points of this motor? I'm looking at a 98 RCSB silvy Z71 with 87k on the clock tomorrow...this dodge is a POS and i'm bout done. I've owned a silvy with the 350 TBI but never with the vortec setup on a 350...only issue i've heard is the intake manifold tends to start pissin.

Dealer is asking around 10k for it...I won't pay more than 7.5 for it low miles or not.

Did you just call us all bastards?

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 03-21-2009, 09:30 PM

........

**SeVeReDiStOrTiOn** · 03-21-2009, 10:56 PM

Sweet....if the transfer case/half shafts/front diff are in decent shape i'll toss out some numbers. Might bring the KY just in case.

Originally Posted by BADASS2000SS

Did you just call us all bastards?

Ummm no...

**SeVeReDiStOrTiOn** · 03-21-2009, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by FORD RECOVERY EXPERT

........

Heh....BTW you guys see that new Punisher: War Zone movie yet? It's kick ass...10x better than the cheese dick version from a few years ago. Anywhooo...

**SeVeReDiStOrTiOn** · 03-21-2009, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Zapper2003

whats wrong with your dodge?

It's a half assed POS...bought it brand new with 20 miles on her and have had nothing but problems. Either I got a lemon or DCX just builds shit vehicles...i'll never know which because i'll never own another.

Woooooot....3 posts in a row

**cuzimoto** · 03-21-2009, 11:49 PM

Yeah the intake leaks coolant from the corners @ about 120K and as said the heater hose fittings break, also well known for injector problems. Tsb from GM on them. Flush sometimes fixes it other wise you gotta replace injector assembly (inside manifold). Thats about it see them with 1/4 million miles + all the time.

**Zapper2003** · 03-22-2009, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by SeVeReDiStOrTiOn

It's a half assed POS...bought it brand new with 20 miles on her and have had nothing but problems. Either I got a lemon or DCX just builds shit vehicles...i'll never know which because i'll never own another.

Woooooot....3 posts in a row

I hear it alot man. I think Chryslers these days are hit and miss with quality. Ive had mine now (bought it with 19k) for almost a year and haven't had an issue yet.

**Y2KSS1363** · 03-22-2009, 07:42 AM

I once owned a '96 K1500 SWB Z71 with the Vortec 350 and 5 speed manual tranny.

Lost it to the wife in divorce in '01. She totaled it in the CO snow three years later.

It was a sweet truck. It had nearly 100K at the end, the only engine issue was a leaky intake manifold gasket.

It drove like a big sports car, I could burn rubber in first and second gear, even chirp third.

Yeah, those Vortec 350's are great motors. If the rest of the truck is in good shape, I'd say go for it.

**km346** · 03-22-2009, 08:27 AM

^^^It is funny, even with an automatic and 33" tires mine will still light em up when i want too. As compared to some other newer trucks ive driven it seems to still have great power.

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 03-22-2009, 09:52 AM

My original '94 (even tho it was TBI) had 500k plus, and would still smoke em up...

**sercastiK** · 03-22-2009, 10:29 AM

engine itself is great. Intake manifolds lose the gasket and drip down the rear of the engine. The A/C compressors lose the center seal and have to be replaced. The injectors are a piece of junk that get sticky and than the truck misses like hell. The fuel pumps die at 100k usually and you gotta change the fuel filter ever 10k to keep them alive, the engine itself is bulletproof.

**jking** · 03-22-2009, 06:23 PM

I put 240k on a 98 C2500 and only had fuel pump problems.

I know a guy who has put over 400k on a 97' that is used for repoing cars and only had minor issues. (like fuel pumps)