vortec cylinder head question

[Yav8]

Vortec heads put my MCSS into the mid-12s on 87 octane. It blew minds in the early-2000s.

I always like to hear the combination of vehical and motor to run those numbers. Cam, converter, trans, compression and anything else would help.

 

[Longroof79]

Jack, did you forget I have the set of self aligning rocker arms. I'll send them to you and just look at it as a gift from Ho Ho Ho

Thanks Steve,
I do remember that you had a set of self aligning rocker arms...I may take you up on your offer. I know you had offered them to other ingrates, including myself...lol!!😛

 

[Bar50]

If you have the option, have them magna-fluxed before you purchase them. I went through 7 heads from salvages before I got a good one to make a pair....I will get new ones in the future, they are around $240 bare and like $300-315 assembled new from GM. Dart Iron Eagle vortec heads are like $300 each bare, they are thicker, mine have screw in studs, mine are Summit branded, but, they are Dart Iron Eagle Vortec heads. I have had the best luck with the Fel-Pro 1255 intake gasket, it is the fiber style.

 

[Longroof79]

If you have the option, have them magna-fluxed before you purchase them. I went through 7 heads from salvages before I got a good one to make a pair....I will get new ones in the future, they are around $240 bare and like $300-315 assembled new from GM. Dart Iron Eagle vortec heads are like $300 each bare, they are thicker, mine have screw in studs, mine are Summit branded, but, they are Dart Iron Eagle Vortec heads. I have had the best luck with the Fel-Pro 1255 intake gasket, it is the fiber style.

Thank you for your input. I would hate like hell to have to unbolt heads at the boneyard only to find out that they're cracked.. Maybe aftermarket Vortecs might be the way to go.
I guess it's a crapshoot either way, unless you buy heads from someone that has had them mag'd and can vouch for them.

 

[motorheadmike]

I always like to hear the combination of vehical and motor to run those numbers. Cam, converter, trans, compression and anything else would help.

I still have the motor, but my memory is fading - here is what I remember:
Used GM Goodwrench Targetmaster 350 (came with flat tops and 76cc heads, rated at 8.5:1 compression) out of a work truck;
New Stock Vortec heads w/.010" shaved off the decks to true them up (factory springs) brought the static compression up to around 9.5:1;
Used .488"/.488" 292/292 hyd flat tappet cam (pretty sure it was on a 108 CL) pulled out of the bottom of a buddy's tool box;
Performer RPM intake w/2" carb spacer under a modified/ported Holley 650 double pumper;
Used and mismatched 1-5/8" headers into dual 3" exhaust with Dynomax bullet mufflers;
Built 200-4R w/12" 3000 stall converter (locked up on the shift to 2nd);
8.5" rearend loaded with 4.56 gears and aluminum drum; and
28x10.5" M/T ET Drags on 15x8 Vette wheels.

The car weighed around 3500lbs. It went 12.7@110mph on motor alone, and 12.5@116mph on a 100 shot. I would shift at 6500 on the stock tach (which doesn't read that high - I had a shift light). It was one of the quickest cars around at the time - especially built on a Mac and Cheese budget.

 

[1STLATIGERDIVISON]

Question then on heads what u guys are saying the vortex is preferable over aluminum heads? I replaced the old cast iron stock heads in my conversion from stock 350 to mod 350 (not bored) with aluminum Eldebrock 202 heads. It has other mods as cam exhaust carb rocker arms etc. just curious
Thk u

 

[Longroof79]

Question then on heads what u guys are saying the vortex is preferable over aluminum heads? I replaced the old cast iron stock heads in my conversion from stock 350 to mod 350 (not bored) with aluminum Eldebrock 202 heads. It has other mods as cam exhaust carb rocker arms etc. just curious
Thk u

Generally the Vortec heads are the best flowing stock heads for the money. They're not necessarily preferred over an aluminum head. What makes Vortec heads desirable, other than the price, is that they share a similar combustion chamber and port design to the LT1, or GMPP Fast Burn heads. However, the Fast Burn uses slightly larger valves and intake runners.

 

[pontiacgp]

this is the difference in the valve between vortec and fast burn heads...

vortec
P/N 12558060. Photo’s show the cast ironcylinder head & combustion chamber used on the 602 engine. Head casting number is 10239906 or 12558062.Valve sizes are 1.94” intake & 1.50”exhaust.

fast burn
P/N 12464298.Photo’s show aluminum “fast burn” cylinder head and combustion chamber used on the 604 engines. Head casting number is 12367712. Valve sizes are 2.00” intake & 1.55” exhaust.

 

[Bar50]

Vortec ports are copies of the LT4 port, they are nearly 1/4" taller.

Vortec heads can be a cheap 25-45 horsepower upgrade.

Vortec heads can be found in junkyards across the land on factory roller cam 350 engines in numerous pickups, SUVs, and vans.

New and used intake manifolds are readily available and no budget breakers.

Aluminum heads pull heat out of the combustion chamber much more efficiently so you can run a higher effective compression ratio than with iron.

Fast Burn heads are over the counter or on performance crate engines only.