New Love for the Step Child
March 28, 2024
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
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Panning For Gold
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Driven Racing Oil: GP1 Racing Products
Driven Racing Oil, born from Joe Gibbs Racing, is formulated specifically for all-out race and high performance engines. What makes Driven’s products different? In simple terms, Driven’s products are unique because they always put the “Motor ahead of the Molecule”. While other oil companies are in love with chemistry and have no real world understanding of how the products are actually used, Driven keeps things in the proper order. The oil is for the motor, not the other way around. Driven’s product development team looks at the motor and how it is used; then they design application specific products using a “zero compromise” approach that delivers a measurable performance advantage.
Spotlighter
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ALL NEW Classic GM 350 from Gandrud
The small-block you know, with a fresh start: brand-new blocks, brand-new heads, and no remanufactured cores.
Author
The Auto Builder Staff
Photos Courtesy of Gandrud Performance Parts
Say “350” around a group of car people, and you probably won’t need to explain yourself. For generations, the GM 350 small-block has been the engine under the hood of a first truck, a favorite cruiser, or the project that taught someone how to turn a wrench. It’s familiar, straightforward, and backed by a depth of parts availability and knowledge that helps make owning an older vehicle enjoyable. The 350 became a classic choice for a reason.
For Chevy and GMC owners who want to keep that familiar small-block in the picture, Gandrud’s GM Performance Motor offers three all-new GM 350 crate engines. And “all-new” is the detail to remember: these engines feature brand-new block and cylinder head castings—not remanufactured cores.
There’s a Reason You Want Another 350
When a truck has served you well, replacing its engine doesn’t necessarily mean you want to change its whole personality. You might simply want to turn the key, hear that familiar V8, and get back to enjoying it. Keeping a 350 under the hood carries some appeal of its own, especially when you already know your way around a small-block Chevy.
That familiarity is part of the engine’s staying power. Owners, builders, and mechanics have spent decades working with the 350, and the accumulated experience makes it an approachable foundation for a long-term project. Whether your truck earns its keep during the week or spends its weekends cruising, there’s satisfaction in keeping a classic combination going.
A Familiar Name with All-New Castings
These engines give that familiar formula a fresh foundation. Each starts with new block and head castings, a four-bolt-main block, and a forged steel crankshaft. Precision CNC machining and U.S. machining and assembly are also part of the package.
For someone weighing the next chapter of an older truck, the distinction matters. You’re buying an all-new engine, with new castings at its core, rather than a remanufactured assembly built around a previously used block.
Three Ways to Keep a 350 Under the Hood
Gandrud’s lineup includes the L05 Gen 1, Vortec L31, and Vortec HD L31, with listed applications spanning 1987 through 2002.
Engine | Listed application | Part number | Key details |
350 L05 Gen 1 | 1987–1995 trucks | 19432778 | Hydraulic flat-tappet camshaft; 210 hp at 4,000 rpm and 300 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm |
350 Vortec L31 | 1996–2002 applications | 19436440 | Hydraulic roller camshaft; replaces part number 19432780 |
350 Vortec HD L31 | 1996–2002 HD applications | 19432779 | Hydraulic roller camshaft; hardened valve seats for alternative fuels |
All three feature 9.4:1 compression, powdered-metal connecting rods, and hypereutectic pistons. Have Gandrud confirm the correct version for your truck and existing combination before ordering.
What Comes with It?
Each engine includes:
- New valve covers.
- Oil pan.
- Timing cover.
- Harmonic balancer.
There’s no core charge, and each engine undergoes torque-to-turn, compression, and oil-pressure testing at the end of the production line. The listings also include a three-year/100,000-mile limited warranty, whichever comes first, subject to application, qualifications, and coverage terms available through Gandrud.
Keep a Good Thing Going
An older Chevy or GMC has a character you can’t order off a new-truck options sheet. The view over the hood, the feel behind the wheel, and the small-block rumble are all part of why you keep it around. A fresh engine can help you move forward with the truck you already enjoy.
The GM 350 has earned its place in garages, driveways, and project plans. With an all-new 350 from Gandrud, that classic choice is ready for another chapter.
ARTICLE SOURCES
Gandrud Performance Parts
Unbeatable Prices on GM Crate Engines and More with Free Shipping on orders over $100 to 48 States!
