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Vortec Casting #906 are OK heads!! They're not the truck HD ones!!!

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Old 02-08-2003, 12:22 AM
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Vortec Casting #906 are OK heads!! They're not the truck HD ones!!!

There's information being passed around here that the Vortec casting #10239906 are HD castings with thicker exhaust seats which intrude into the exhaust port and slow the cfm rating.

THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!!!

Unfortunately I've been one contributing to this mis-information due to an article I read in Chevy High Performance magazine.

I just received the latest issue and they point out their mistake, and apologize.

They also point out that the stock springs CAN withstand lifts as high as .470", although the valve guides may still need to be modified to clear the stock retainers.

They suggest you check ALL of them before you install a cam with more than .450" of lift. They've checked several heads finding that some were fine, and others had less than the recommended .050" of clearance.

Just thought I'd stop the chaos and panic as I've seen some people here quite upset thinking their #906 castings were junk.
Old 02-08-2003, 02:37 AM
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i passed up a deal on those heads because of that article...these heads had 5,000miles on them and the guy wanted $100 for them......thanks again chevy high performance.

urgh...and someone else bought them too.
Old 02-08-2003, 06:07 AM
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It seems that they are always screwing up on pretty important tech info!!!
Old 02-08-2003, 06:43 AM
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BOYCOTT CHP!
Old 02-08-2003, 07:53 AM
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Wrong answer....

Be somebody that does things and actually looks at the parts, instead of a magazine article reader. It's usually pretty easy to tell who on this BBS actually builds cars, and separate those people from people whose only contact with cars is through magazines.

Magazines have their place, but they aren't shop manuals, and they are no substitute for experience.
Old 02-08-2003, 12:25 PM
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so what is the difference between all the diferent vortec heads out there. Ive seen 906, 062 and another one i cant rememebr
Old 02-08-2003, 12:43 PM
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The fact is that some of those heads did get the super duper exhaust valve seat, some are different they went on the heavy duty trucks.

however a good vavle job, fixes it right up, and you've got a very hard exhaust seat. i know people that have been buyin em up since they were "crappy" heads and cheap


Fact is they are good. don't belive all of what you year.
Old 02-08-2003, 04:03 PM
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Originally posted by RB83L69
Wrong answer....

Be somebody that does things and actually looks at the parts, instead of a magazine article reader. It's usually pretty easy to tell who on this BBS actually builds cars, and separate those people from people whose only contact with cars is through magazines.

Magazines have their place, but they aren't shop manuals, and they are no substitute for experience.
That's an appropriate response to someone that admits they were misinformed, and tries to correct it. Remind me to do THAT again.

Unfortunetly I'd LOVE to "Be somebody that does things and actually looks at the parts", but I've got this damn mortgage payment, college fund for my 3 1/2 yr. old son, and I've been laid off from work since August making ~$160/wk on unemployment.

If I'd just sell my house, ditch my wife and kid, and win the lottery I could buy every shop manual there is and live at the junk yard spending hours on end studying everything that came in. Then I'd have all the experience I'd ever need.

Boy I've got my priorities all messed up.
Old 02-08-2003, 04:51 PM
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Well then...

Originally posted by RB83L69
Wrong answer....

Be somebody that does things and actually looks at the parts, instead of a magazine article reader. It's usually pretty easy to tell who on this BBS actually builds cars, and separate those people from people whose only contact with cars is through magazines.

Magazines have their place, but they aren't shop manuals, and they are no substitute for experience.
Some of us would rather take a magazines word for it before we fork out the cash for "experience" with parts. I don't have the money to just buys stuff and see if it's good, not to mention I would much rather spend my time driving the car rather than changing the parts.

Good to know though! I have a set of 906 heads on my 305! Wheeew!
Old 02-08-2003, 05:34 PM
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You people missed RB's point altogether. Had you actually LOOKED at the heads instead of taking a magazine's word for it, you would have seen that the exhaust seat is just fine on that casting. Magazines should be used for entertainment value and nothing more.
Old 02-08-2003, 05:44 PM
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Originally posted by Brad
You people missed RB's point altogether. Had you actually LOOKED at the heads instead of taking a magazine's word for it, you would have seen that the exhaust seat is just fine on that casting. Magazines should be used for entertainment value and nothing more.
Brad..... I appreciate that you're an Administrator. I also understand RB's point, but the fact remains that some of us don't have the two side by side to compare nor do we have the funds to buy either for 'investigation purposes'.

That's all.

My response was meant to be more comical than anything.
Old 02-08-2003, 09:31 PM
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Originally posted by AJ_92RS
That's an appropriate response to someone that admits they were misinformed, and tries to correct it. Remind me to do THAT again.

Unfortunetly I'd LOVE to "Be somebody that does things and actually looks at the parts", but I've got this damn mortgage payment, college fund for my 3 1/2 yr. old son, and I've been laid off from work since August making ~$160/wk on unemployment.

If I'd just sell my house, ditch my wife and kid, and win the lottery I could buy every shop manual there is and live at the junk yard spending hours on end studying everything that came in. Then I'd have all the experience I'd ever need.

Boy I've got my priorities all messed up.
Don't forget the Internet account you're paying for...then again it probably doesn't interfere with any of the above.

Old 02-08-2003, 11:22 PM
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Originally posted by 8Mike9
Don't forget the Internet account you're paying for...then again it probably doesn't interfere with any of the above.

Well at this point it's pretty much the only entertainment I get.

I'm the "stay home dad" as of right now because at this point in time we can't afford daycare (which would be pointless anyway since I'm here to watch him). I sit at home ALL DAY with that kid of mine. **pulling hair**. I gotta do something. :lala:

Anyway..... back on topic.

Even when CHP made that mistake, they did point out that the most loss that would circum the HD exhaust seat would be less than 20 cfm @ ~ .450" of lift. Hardly anything to worry about if you're building a mild street/strip motor.

As Pony Killer pointed out, this could easily be changed by a simple 3 angle valve job.
Old 02-08-2003, 11:30 PM
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I hear where you're coming from. Basically, RB was coming to the defense of the magazine from the people who were saying "boycott CHP!" He was reminding those people that magazines are not intended to be great sources of technical information, but rather a source of something fun to read. Remember, magazines screw up pretty bad themselves... just look at how underpowered GMHTP's project Magnum TPI is. If that's not proof of the inexperience of magazine writers and editors, I don't know what is
Old 02-08-2003, 11:59 PM
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well this is good news.Except I kind of broke my 906's.While trying to get the pressed in rocker studs out.And I haven't got them tig welded up yet.I don't think I am going to use them on this motor anyway.I plan on getting some aftermarket heads one day.And don't want to waste money on a vortec style intake.

Last edited by 86budgetSC; 02-09-2003 at 12:01 AM.
Old 02-09-2003, 04:37 AM
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i'm not sure if he meant that as an insult to me or not for what I said on passing up the heads, but man.....do you know everything??? geez I sure don't, I wish I had a family full of hotrodders who could tell me what to do on my camaro, but I have this site and a few friends. You wonder why Fast and Furious sold so many hondas...because kids don't know any better because no one teaches them. I know enough to get me by on some things but it's been a learning experience which I have enjoyed and thirdgen has helped me out a lot. But the fact remains that I don't like having something like that said to me, maybe I haven't put together a buch of cars, but I'm learning and AJ has helped me answer a lot of questions as well. Let's keep the whining to a minimum, otherwise the other option besides working on your car is paying someone, and personally I'd rather learn.

Steve--off the soap box now.
Old 02-09-2003, 07:38 AM
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My comment was directed at the "boycott CHP" post, not at AJ.

Anybody that works as a journalist is supposed to verify the truth of what they publish. Obviously the CHP guys didn't do that until much later. I guess it's like the difference between an "information" publication, like the Wall Street Journal or something, as opposed to an "entertainment" one like People or the National Enquirer. I doubt that most people would say "boycott National Enquirer" when they found out that in reality, Elvis's 2-headed alien love child with Britney Spears is not really working at a convenience store in Hoboken NJ, despite the photographic "evidence" the magazine printed. CHP apparently has a commitment to journalism (telling the truth) that is somewhere in between those 2: they don't verify before they print, but at least they retract when they screw up.

AJ provided us all a service, by telling us about CHP's correction. That's good. I wish some of the people who work in machine shops and see these things on a regular basis would have noticed it first; but maybe they're all collecting those "junk" castings and using them themselves. Who knows. Not me, I'm not a head machinist. I build motors once in a while but I'm certainly no expert on every part that's out there. Too bad no one who is familiar with them reported the facts. And, it's too bad the people who wrote the article (who we are supposed to trust as "somebody that does things and actually looks at the parts") weren't familiar enough with their subject matter to get it right, but instead sent no telling how many people on a fet turn down a dirt road.

"It must be true - I saw it on the Internet.... twice."
Old 03-11-2003, 10:42 AM
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Sorry to bring up this old post again but I need a clarification:

Bottom line: any vortec head is good but the 906 casting is prefferred over the 062? Is that correct?

What casting is the one that SDPC sells?
Old 03-11-2003, 11:58 AM
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SPDC...

Originally posted by formula91
Sorry to bring up this old post again but I need a clarification:

Bottom line: any vortec head is good but the 906 casting is prefferred over the 062? Is that correct?

What casting is the one that SDPC sells?
SPDC sells the '062' casting. As far as the '906' being preferred...I don't think so. Most people go with the '062', they are the ones used in pretty much all the tests you see.
Old 03-11-2003, 02:08 PM
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i was hoping that my heads P/N 14102193, were any good but the consensus seem to dictate that mine are trully crap, what do you guys think?
Fernando.
Old 03-11-2003, 02:18 PM
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Ok....that's it.

Originally posted by MIG-29
i was hoping that my heads P/N 14102193, were any good but the consensus seem to dictate that mine are trully crap, what do you guys think?
Fernando.
TO CLARIFY: No Vortec heads are crap. The HD truck heads are pretty hard to come by. If you have casting # '062' or '906', you are fine, they are good heads, don't worry about it.

With your situation I don't know if those heads you have would be casting# '193'...which could be the HD crappy ones. Do some research on the net and find out.
Old 03-11-2003, 11:33 PM
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casting number 193 is a 350 swirl port head from 88 to 95

Also casting number 906 does have a harder seat, but in no way does it affect the flow of the head. I found out not long ago while doing a crack repair to a 906 casting and had a hard time just getting the drill bit to start. Yet with the 062 castings it was much easier.
Old 03-12-2003, 09:59 AM
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so are the 193 as crappy as "no worth porting"?
i have to take a desicion about them.
about CHP magazine, i think we shouldnt go nuts about a mistake, is still a good magazine.
"we're only humans" said the elephant after flirting with the ant
thanks to all for the info.
Fernando.
Old 03-12-2003, 10:11 PM
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not sure....

Originally posted by MIG-29
so are the 193 as crappy as "no worth porting"?
i have to take a desicion about them.
about CHP magazine, i think we shouldnt go nuts about a mistake, is still a good magazine.
"we're only humans" said the elephant after flirting with the ant
thanks to all for the info.
Fernando.
most people and machinists are against porting Vortec heads in any way, you don't want to screw up that combustion chamber...it's what make the Vortec head a good one. Get a 3 or 5 angle valve job and that's it...if you must do something with them.
Old 03-13-2003, 10:52 AM
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mmmmm....
let me get this straight,
please correct me if i'm wrong, i understand that my 193 heads are actually VORTEC as well?
i'm installing a fresh set of 416 on my pre-86 350, dished pistons .020 over, these are ported and 3 angled but remain 1:84 intake, i'm convinced that, as these are, will be better than the 193 heads.
what do you think?
thanks again for all the info, brother.
Fernando.
Old 03-13-2003, 12:10 PM
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Put it this way. I'm in the middle of pocket porting a set of 193 heads right now, but they're not going in my car. They're going in my '83 1/2 ton.

I need to get rid of the 305 in the truck. A 305 doesn't belong in a full size truck. It's like putting mustard on pile of crap to make it smell better.

I'm gonna be using a cam that's 204/224@.050", .420"/.442" lift to get some nice low RPM grunt. The truck's gonna be used to mainly pull, so I need the torque. I'm hoping for about 380-400 lb/ft. with that combo and some cheap headers. I want TORQUE!!!!!

They're truck heads, and the swirl port design is there to boost low RPM torque so that's what they should be used for. Don't try to make a 6500 RPM engine with them. That's the crap and mustard thing again.
Old 03-14-2003, 10:22 AM
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AJ you're the man
that's the kinda' info i needed to make my desicion, its done, the 416's are my choice.
thanks again bud.
Fernando.
Old 08-29-2019, 02:32 PM
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Re: Ok....that's it.

Originally Posted by 330hp_91RS
TO CLARIFY: No Vortec heads are crap. The HD truck heads are pretty hard to come by. If you have casting # '062' or '906', you are fine, they are good heads, don't worry about it.

With your situation I don't know if those heads you have would be casting# '193'...which could be the HD crappy ones. Do some research on the net and find out.
Is it possible to run 1 of each on a motor.1(062) 1 (906)
Old 08-29-2019, 05:34 PM
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Re: Vortec Casting #906 are OK heads!! They're not the truck HD ones!!!

Yup

Bolt right up
Old 08-29-2019, 11:56 PM
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Re: Ok....that's it.

Originally Posted by Imdot74
Is it possible to run 1 of each on a motor.1(062) 1 (906)
Yes. We took an engine out of an older car of my Dads for a rebuild. Thing ran pretty good but was starting to smoke and low on power. Dang thing had a 58 cc . 305 head on one side and a 64 or 72 cc 70s smogger head on the other side Lol.
Old 08-30-2019, 12:32 AM
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Re: Vortec Casting #906 are OK heads!! They're not the truck HD ones!!!

When researching for my vid I came across so much mixed info on vortec heads but only after did I find more about the seats on HD trucks LOL This is an old thread but reminded me to update my description.

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