1987 V3500 Engine update

I recently purchased an 87 V3500 C&C truck on an auction last month. Had to drive from southern utah to northeast Oregon to go pick it up. Seller said motor was seized from running diesel fuel in it. When I got the time, I put a breaker bar on the balancer and I could turn the motor easily. I checked the oil and noticed it appeared to be over-filled by 100% or more on the dipstick. (Yeah not good) So i get my diesel oil drain pan and drain the oil out of the engine. Unfortunately, the first 4-5 quarts that came out first was orange dex coolant, then 4-5 quarts of very dirty oil. Pulled the oil filter and it didn’t look too bad. Refilled crankcase with some old 15w/40 i’ve had laying on a shelf for 20 years. I then pulled all the plugs and cranked the motor over, after replacing bad starter. It seems water is coming out of #5,7 and #8 cylinders. During the cranking the oil pressure showed about 50-60 psi and no major bad noises were heard. I’m hoping this is just blown head gaskets from a hydro-lock situation. Will be pulling the heads to investigate.

If the block isn’t salvageable, i’m looking at a Smeding 383 short block and then I’ll build it with some new vortec heads to give the old girl a new lease on life. Truck is a 49 state heavy emissions 350 and I believe was the last year a 350 could get a Q-Jet.

Updates to follow.

Please tell me about that winch. Looks like a Ramsey...

And yes, 1987 was the first year for TBI but I am not sure about the 3500 trucks. I didn't know a carburetor was still an option for '87 but I am happy to learn something new.

Redfish said:

Please tell me about that winch. Looks like a Ramsey...

And yes, 1987 was the first year for TBI but I am not sure about the 3500 trucks. I didn't know a carburetor was still an option for '87 but I am happy to learn something new.

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Yes Ramsey 12,000 lb electric winch. Still works fine. I believe 87 was last year for heavy emissions 350 >8600 gvw to get a q-jet. I believe the 7.4 carried on with the carb for possibly two more years with 49 state emissions and >8600 gvw. I could be wrong on that.

Owned 2 C30 cab/chassis 1988 and 1989 1-ton DRW 454. Both were TBI.

Do remember working on customer dual air pump carbed 454's during that time, unsure what year they were. Horrible to work on, guessing 87.

Motor that’s in the truck ended up having 6 quarts of coolant in the oil pan. I believe the block is windowed and or cracked. PO was a fire dept, they said some new recruits filled the truck up with diesel and ran it till it hydro-locked.

I’ve got a blueprint 350 TBI longblock coming for it. Basically an upgraded OE style replacement with a hyd.roller cam, new block and tbi heads.(Not a fan of flat tappet cam/lifters and the dreaded break-in) New longblock is Supposed to be 260hp and 342 lb ft torque. Stock LT9 350 4 barrel had 160 hp! I was going to get a 383 stroker long block but decided on keeping it a 350. It’s not a hot rod, just going to be my mountain wood truck.

Fr8dog said:

Motor that’s in the truck ended up having 6 quarts of coolant in the oil pan. I believe the block is windowed and or cracked. PO was a fire dept, they said some new recruits filled the truck up with diesel and ran it till it hydro-locked.

I’ve got a blueprint 350 TBI longblock coming for it. Basically an upgraded OE style replacement with a hyd.roller cam, new block and tbi heads.(Not a fan of flat tappet cam/lifters and the dreaded break-in) New longblock is Supposed to be 260hp and 342 lb ft torque. Stock LT9 350 4 barrel had 160 hp! I was going to get a 383 stroker long block but decided on keeping it a 350. It’s not a hot rod, just going to be my mountain wood truck.

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Keep us posted on that new block! That is the same one I have my eye on when the time comes for me.

gmbellew said:

Keep us posted on that new block! That is the same one I have my eye on when the time comes for me.

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I will let you know.

I had entertained a 383 longblock, the Atk HP90 in particular, but decided to stick to blueprint 350 as the truck has 4.56 gears and really won’t be towing much, mostly will be my mountain wood truck. Also wanted to reuse stock exhaust tubular manifolds and factory dual exhaust, figured a 383 would need headers and new exhaust to breath more optimally. I do like the idea of a new block and heads, and not an unknown reman parts. This is first time i’ve ever ordered an engine, i’ve always built them before but times have changed and machine shops are not the value proposition they used to be in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

I’m putting a tbi head compatible weiand spreadbore low-rise dual plane intake and stock Q-Jet on it. Didn’t want to drill out the center 4 holes on stock iron carb intake and have any cracking and or sealing issues. This block is machined for a mechanical fuel pump and the roller camshaft has the fuel pump eccentric. I intend to use my own mech. fuel pump for simplicity.

Pretty excited to get this ole girl back on the road.

out of curiosity, why aren't you sticking with the TBI?

gmbellew said:

out of curiosity, why aren't you sticking with the TBI?

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This truck originally came as a heavy emissions LT-9 350 with a carb. Apparently, 1987 was the last year of the Q-jet for the 350, and I believe it also had to be a cab/chassis, which this truck is.

The engine showed up today at the freight terminal. Dyno sheet included. Interesting that the dyno sheet exceeded both the torque and hp for what was advertised for this engine.