I'm rapidly blazing a narrow trail with a 8.1 (496 cube) Chevy Vortec - made from 2001-2006 in the 2,500, 3,500, Avalanche - and other light duty trucks/vans.
Also found up to the current model year in MEDIUM duty trucks and marine applications. Mine came from a 2007 Medium duty truck - think dump truck - school bus.
Why?
1. It is different - I love LS swaps...but they are getting pretty boring.
2. 496 cubes
3. It runs on the same 24 tooth reluctor as a LS engine - and computer. Can go dbw or cable - or run on a stand alone system. You would do everything that you would normally do to install an LS - just substitute the mill for the big block.
4. Has standard old school motor mounts AND LS mounts cast on the block - will bolt into anything - pure universal donor.
5. Roller cam
6. Coil over plugs, sequential port EFI
7. 496 cubes
8. Once piece front and rear seals
9. four bolt main
10. uses standard big block exhaust goodies
11. Will bolt up to ANY GM transmission - standard old school bell housing and can accept a manual flywheel...and transmission - NO problem
12. 496 cubes
13. A decent amount of aftermarket parts - thanks to hot rod boats and hard core truck guys. There are cams, heads, intakes, headers...etc. available from mild to wild
14. 496 cubes
15. Very affordable - as they have not caught on...and might not ever - serving as quite possibly the last Rat motor the general will ever make.
I am wrapping my swap up now into a 69 Vette using a Richmond six speed. When you first see it under the hood you think "My...that is a huge LS engine..." but it isn't an LS engine.
I just swapped a comp HR270 and matching springs with a set of magnum roller rockers - tuning, headers...and CAI.
With a little effort - 400+ hp and 500+ ft lbs is not an issue.
With some extra effort - 500+ hp and ft lbs is totally possible with options to stroke to 9.1
www.raylarengines.com has some goodies - but there are others here and there.
Did I mention 496 cubes? Big blocks rock.