I was under the impression that the Vortex engine was put in the S series Blazer/Jimmy in 1995 and the pickup series in 1994. The 1994 S-10 Blazer I just purchased for parts has the Vortex engine in it and it surprised me. Did Gm start early on these or was it late production in 94 that got the Vortex?

 

In 1991, the limited-edition GMC Syclone featured a 280 hp (209 kW) and 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) turbocharged and intercooled LB4 with the first use of multi-point fuel injection on a Vortec V6. The central-port injected L35 (Vin 'W') debuted in 1992; the cylinder block was slightly changed, a balance shaft was added to remove minor vibrations, and better breathing yielded 200 hp (149 kW) . Another CPI engine, the LF6, joined in 1996 with the introduction of Vortec cylinder heads, while the LB4 was retired after 1998. In 2002, GM introduced a new multi-point injected LU3 engine, and a LG3 variant appeared soon after. This engine's origins date back to 1955, when the original Chevy small-block V-8 was introduced. All Vortec 4300s use a cast iron block and heads with a 4 in (101.60 mm) bore and 3.48 in (88.39 mm) stroke, both of which are the same as a 350, which gives them a displacement of 262.39 cubic inches (4,299.8 cc). Connecting rods still measure 5.7 in (144.78 mm) although the rod journal diameter is 2.25 in (57.15 mm). 1992 and later cylinder blocks used a different timing cover since these engines used a balance shaft (some 1992 production cylinder blocks for the LB4 with TBI induction used the 'traditional' front timing chain cover from the small block Chevrolet). This change created a situation where most aftermarket timing chain alternatives do not fit. This is true of gear drives and double roller chains. They are pushrod (center camshaft) engines with two valves per cylinder and are produced in Tonawanda, New York and Romulus, Michigan. Power output of the new LU3/LG3 engines is 200 hp (149 kW) to 215 hp (160 kW) and 250 lb·ft (339 N·m) to 265 lb·ft (359 N·m).
4300 applications:

• 1985–2005 Chevrolet Astro/GMC Safari
• 1991–1993 GMC Syclone/GMC Typhoon (See LB4 below)
• 1988–1995 Chevrolet Blazer/GMC Jimmy
• 2001–2002 Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana
• 1988–2003 Chevrolet S-10/GMC S-15
• 1994–2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
• 1985–2001 Chevrolet C/K

 

my 92 blazer has a 4.3Vortex

 

my early 92 has the 4.3 but doesn't say Vortex on it, just a plane old air cleaner sits on top of the TBI and the snorkel is just a tube that sucks air by the radiator, but the 94 has a large air cleaner that has Vortex stamped in it and the air snorkel goes all the way to the oil filter area and drops down to draw air in.

 

count the bolts on the intake....8 bolts is a votec
simplest way to check on a 4.3

 

my 93 has a vortec

 

Sorry to hear that, is it operable? Maybe chemo would help.. My Brava has one of the Voltron's. It's so powerful I had to buy an Optimus Prime to crank it.