LT1 Head bolt pattern

Will LT1 heads bolt up to a 92 small block? Or did they change something in the bolt pattern? I got my modified LT1 intake manifold in and ive got a deal on the side to pick up some beefed up factory LT1 heads. Im thinking they will bolt up but im not sure. Also There is a flat rectangular shaped box made of thin metal that it bolted to the bottom of the manifold. Anyone know what that is?

The bolt pattern is the same as any other small-block, but the water passages are quite different as the LT1, LT4 and L99 are all reverse-cooled meaning the cooled water flows through the heads before the block. They are not interchangeable.

You can get heads with LT1 style intake runners - these are the Vortec heads - 1996 and later but require a special intake manifold. Note about these cylinder heads - some people think that all center-bolt 350 non-LT1 heads are 'Vortec' heads and that is not the case. The Vortec heads were produced from 1996 through 2002. They have raised intake runners.

....do all of the coolant passages line up? Cant the flow just be turned around?

Or if I find an lt1 block can i install a distributor on it?

You can most certainly install a rear distributor on an LT1 block - GM sells this in crate form as the ZZ1 engine. The factory LT1 has a "plug" in the distributor hole at the back that has an idler gear on it, to run the oil pump. A distributor will work there too, but may not clear the intake plenum if you use the LT1 intake. Remember the timing cover for an LT1 has the hole for the optispark distributor, and the timing cover is in no way compatible with previous small blocks.

The coolant passages on LT1 heads do not line up with previous blocks. The two are completely different.

poop.....now i gotta do more skeeming....

Grab a set of Vortec heads - they have the same performance attributes of the LT1 heads and fit on non-GenII Small Blocks.

Or, were you wanting to use LT1 heads and intake on your '92 block?

Main reason for me trying to fit lt1 heads on my 92 block was 1. i can get a good deal for some worked lt1 heads from a friend and 2. I have this modified lt1 intake with the bolt pattern to hook it up to lt1 heads. I could drill new holes to fit it to regular sbc heads but ive heard about problems with vacuum leaks. I may do it anyways though. Will an lt1 intake manifold bolt up to vortec heads?

Unfortunately, no - the port layout is completely different (the Vortec heads have the runners raised about .2 inch). Inasmuch as running the LT1 manifold on a regular block - if memory serves me right the water return (and thermostat housing) on the LT1 is on the water pump which means it's not on the intake. You might run into a problem hooking up your cooling system!

EDIT- the Vortec standard heads do not have raised runners as I wrote above, but they do have a totally different intake mounting convention (8 bolts vertical vs. 12 bolts angled).