vortec heads
01-16-2015, 12:13 AM
#51
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Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 355, 10.34:1, 249/252 @.050", IK200
Transmission: TH-400, 3500 stall 9.5" converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9", detroit locker, 3.89 gears
Re: vortec heads
Just so we are all on the same page and in case anyone reads this 10 years from now, the Vortec head (as originally provided by GM in the mid 90's) did one thing really well. It provided low and mid lift numbers that far exceeded anything that was available at the time. I'll stress again low and mid lift because that's what made them such a good cylinder head.
Great for port speed.
I said it already and I'll say it again.. Vortecs are the BEST budget head for mild/med power levels.
They are not a race head, they are not 7,000 rpm heads, they are not the best head out there, but like whats been said you can't beat them for the price.
IMO.. If you buy a set, have the guides milled down, spring pockets cut, port work done, screw in studs added, etc etc... You are wasting your money with the vortecs... They are budget heads.
Get em', stick with low lift cams, or do the ghetto grind, spend 40 bucks on springs, par them with the right compression and cam and you have a 375-415 HP engine with heads that you can get for $100-300 and $50 in mods to them, and $150 intake
01-16-2015, 12:38 AM
#52
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Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 377
Transmission: TH350; Circle D 4200 converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"
Re: vortec heads
Not to mention all of that from a 170cc runner!
Great for port speed.
I said it already and I'll say it again.. Vortecs are the BEST budget head for mild/med power levels.
They are not a race head, they are not 7,000 rpm heads, they are not the best head out there, but like whats been said you can't beat them for the price.
IMO.. If you buy a set, have the guides milled down, spring pockets cut, port work done, screw in studs added, etc etc... You are wasting your money with the vortecs... They are budget heads.
Get em', stick with low lift cams, or do the ghetto grind, spend 40 bucks on springs, par them with the right compression and cam and you have a 375-415 HP engine with heads that you can get for $100-300 and $50 in mods to them, and $150 intake
Great for port speed.
I said it already and I'll say it again.. Vortecs are the BEST budget head for mild/med power levels.
They are not a race head, they are not 7,000 rpm heads, they are not the best head out there, but like whats been said you can't beat them for the price.
IMO.. If you buy a set, have the guides milled down, spring pockets cut, port work done, screw in studs added, etc etc... You are wasting your money with the vortecs... They are budget heads.
Get em', stick with low lift cams, or do the ghetto grind, spend 40 bucks on springs, par them with the right compression and cam and you have a 375-415 HP engine with heads that you can get for $100-300 and $50 in mods to them, and $150 intake
01-16-2015, 07:29 AM
#53
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Car: 1983 G20 Chevy
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 14 bolt with 3.07 gears
Re: vortec heads
GM shoulda used vortec heads with TPI on 4x4 mud trucks. woulda made a mean-azz low end torque motor.
anybody think the vortec intake port led to the development of the LS/cathederal port? just an old rumor?
kinda seems like "some" vortecs have as bad a reputation as the old "882's" for cracking. what the,.....?
anybody think the vortec intake port led to the development of the LS/cathederal port? just an old rumor?
kinda seems like "some" vortecs have as bad a reputation as the old "882's" for cracking. what the,.....?
As for the TPI comment, I had one on my old G20 van with Vortecs. Ran well, but I like the GM Marine L31 intake manifold better. It has shorter runners and has great low-midrange grunt.
01-16-2015, 11:24 AM
#54
Supreme Member
Re: vortec heads
Wow. We sure have a lot to say about the 'ol Vortecs.
Now here's a scenario for you. Opinions please.
I have a set of Vortecs that I purchased new about 10 years ago. (Not sure if they're the suspect Mexican castings or not)Used them box stock with an old single pattern cam. Short duration (less than 224) and .454 lift. Cranking pressure was 200+. Then upgraded the heads: screw-in studs, guide plates, Comp 26918 Beehive springs, enlarged push rod holes and paired it with a XR276HR cam and 1.6 rockers. Eventually, the heads were retired as they needed guides.
Here's my question and please remember my comments about "sunk cost". Do you invest the money in new guides? Maybe touch up the bowls a little? Or sell them as is and recoup the money in hard parts (springs, studs, machine work). For what it's worth, I've since moved past the Vortecs and said cam but that's another story.
I have the option to resurrect another 355 and re-use the heads and cam. No deadline.
While I'm at it, the same question could be applied to my currently in use RHS iron heads. They need guides too.
Now here's a scenario for you. Opinions please.
I have a set of Vortecs that I purchased new about 10 years ago. (Not sure if they're the suspect Mexican castings or not)Used them box stock with an old single pattern cam. Short duration (less than 224) and .454 lift. Cranking pressure was 200+. Then upgraded the heads: screw-in studs, guide plates, Comp 26918 Beehive springs, enlarged push rod holes and paired it with a XR276HR cam and 1.6 rockers. Eventually, the heads were retired as they needed guides.
Here's my question and please remember my comments about "sunk cost". Do you invest the money in new guides? Maybe touch up the bowls a little? Or sell them as is and recoup the money in hard parts (springs, studs, machine work). For what it's worth, I've since moved past the Vortecs and said cam but that's another story.
I have the option to resurrect another 355 and re-use the heads and cam. No deadline.
While I'm at it, the same question could be applied to my currently in use RHS iron heads. They need guides too.
Last edited by skinny z; 01-16-2015 at 11:29 AM.
01-16-2015, 12:27 PM
#55
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Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 355, 10.34:1, 249/252 @.050", IK200
Transmission: TH-400, 3500 stall 9.5" converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9", detroit locker, 3.89 gears
Re: vortec heads
Skinny,
My opinion on that is.. Pull the rockers, springs, studs, guide plates off the vortec heads.. Then sell the heads for $300-400 (somebody will pay that for the stripped down, upgraded/modded vortecs)
Put that money towards much better bare alum. heads, buy a valve set from competition products for alittle over $100 and put all of the parts you pulled from the vortecs onto the new heads.
My opinion on that is.. Pull the rockers, springs, studs, guide plates off the vortec heads.. Then sell the heads for $300-400 (somebody will pay that for the stripped down, upgraded/modded vortecs)
Put that money towards much better bare alum. heads, buy a valve set from competition products for alittle over $100 and put all of the parts you pulled from the vortecs onto the new heads.
01-17-2015, 11:05 AM
#56
Supreme Member
Re: vortec heads
Hey Night
Pretty much my thoughts however....here's the deal. I have a decent of heads with the RHS I picked up a couple of years back. More than enough to build an engine that could potentially make north of 450 hp (realistically and more) although at the moment I have a pretty tame engine program (274/280 adv cam). So, the need for another set of heads really isn't there. For now anyway.
Is there an interest in the Vortecs with all of the good stuff already done yet in need of guides? (I suppose theheads could be used as is but I know they have a lot if miles on them).
Just kind of throwing this out there.
Pretty much my thoughts however....here's the deal. I have a decent of heads with the RHS I picked up a couple of years back. More than enough to build an engine that could potentially make north of 450 hp (realistically and more) although at the moment I have a pretty tame engine program (274/280 adv cam). So, the need for another set of heads really isn't there. For now anyway.
Is there an interest in the Vortecs with all of the good stuff already done yet in need of guides? (I suppose theheads could be used as is but I know they have a lot if miles on them).
Just kind of throwing this out there.
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