AFR Brodix and others all make heads that will wake up about anything.
View Poll Results: which heads should i upgrade with?
vortec heads 64cc
34
69.39%
l98 corvette aluminum heads 58cc
15
30.61%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll
poll about which heads...again!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I would think putting the L98 heads on an L48 engine will put your compression around or above 10.0:1. If you're okay with that then go for it, but using the Vortec heads you will get roughly a 9.5:1 CR. Having the heads milled a bit or using a thin gasket, would get you real close to 9.75:1 and that's just about ideal.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
they are the two that are the most reasonable costwise to me at this time. in the future i want to build a stroker with high performance aluminum heads. do you have another suggestion?
DB, my crate engine is a GM performance 390 hp shortblock with l48 casting # heads on it.
DB, my crate engine is a GM performance 390 hp shortblock with l48 casting # heads on it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
they are the two that are the most reasonable costwise to me at this time. in the future i want to build a stroker with high performance aluminum heads. do you have another suggestion?
DB, my crate engine is a GM performance 390 hp shortblock with l48 casting # heads on it.
DB, my crate engine is a GM performance 390 hp shortblock with l48 casting # heads on it.
Did you get any paperwork with your crate motor's advertised compression ration on it?
Seems the Vortec heads get you about a full point of compression, and the L98 heads get you 1.5 points.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
)
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 86
From: State of Confusion
they are the two that are the most reasonable costwise to me at this time. in the future i want to build a stroker with high performance aluminum heads. do you have another suggestion?
DB, my crate engine is a GM performance 390 hp shortblock with l48 casting # heads on it.
DB, my crate engine is a GM performance 390 hp shortblock with l48 casting # heads on it.
:confused"
I believe the L98-head comes on the ZZ4 crate motor, has 1.940"/1.500"-sized valves, and 58cc chambers, which will (as stated ) raise the squeeze higher than a 'standard' 64cc head:
the vortec heads have similiar-sized valves and 64cc chambers, but the port-configuration and chamber shape is different (hence, it's 'vortec' name? ) which promotes very good combustion and might work-well in your application, but they require a vortec-specific intake manifold.
It's possible that if you want to keep a Chevrolet piece on your car to think about the 'Fast Burn' aluminum cylinder head, used on the ZZ383 crate-motor, making 425 HP & 449 TQ:
with 62cc chambers, and 2.000"/1.550"-sized valves, screw-in studs, and a .530"-lift outta the box, these might work-well on your future 'long-arm' project.....
although they are about $1250 from Pace Performance in Ohio, the additional cost now would be off-set if you use them on your next motor.
Scoggin-Dickey sells upgraded vortec cylinder-head/intake manifold kits for less than $1100
http://www.sdparts.com/catalog/engin...cHeadKits.aspx
A buddy of mine, 80crabvette, used vortec-heads & the RPM Air Gap under the hood of his 1980 Corvette this year (with headers, cam, and a Holley carb ), and he is very pleased with the results.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
It seems criteria limited to bargain-price heads ... so I voted L98/ZZ4heads ... & save more $ 'cuz OE C3 intake fits (Not so w/ any vortec).
I know where a set is for about same $ but in even newer condition. Email only if serious.
-edit- if motor is OE 290hp GM crate ... it has dished pistons like L48.
Last edited by jackson; Nov 28, 2007 at 03:39 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
There is a new set of ZZ4 heads on ebay right now and not a bad price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-G...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-G...spagenameZWDVW
good heads but bad price
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 18
From: Florida
vortecs would make better power, l98 would be lighter, but they are not a great casting for rebuilding. seems like a waste to buy heads twice when for 1200 you could buy edelbrock, brodix, tfs, or canfield heads that would make much more power and could be rebuilt, ported or whatever down the road... do you need heads now? how much can you spend?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 18
From: Florida
i would also add that you arent gaining much flow wise, maybe just a rebuild and good (better flowing) valves and modern cam? you would probably see better results with a cam/intake swap than getting heads and no cam or intake.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
I am 'assuming' you mean the 290 HP-version crate engine, as I am unaware of a '390' HPmodel.....
:confused"
I believe the L98-head comes on the ZZ4 crate motor, has 1.940"/1.500"-sized valves, and 58cc chambers, which will (as stated ) raise the squeeze higher than a 'standard' 64cc head:
the vortec heads have similiar-sized valves and 64cc chambers, but the port-configuration and chamber shape is different (hence, it's 'vortec' name? ) which promotes very good combustion and might work-well in your application, but they require a vortec-specific intake manifold.
It's possible that if you want to keep a Chevrolet piece on your car to think about the 'Fast Burn' aluminum cylinder head, used on the ZZ383 crate-motor, making 425 HP & 449 TQ:
with 62cc chambers, and 2.000"/1.550"-sized valves, screw-in studs, and a .530"-lift outta the box, these might work-well on your future 'long-arm' project.....
although they are about $1250 from Pace Performance in Ohio, the additional cost now would be off-set if you use them on your next motor.
Scoggin-Dickey sells upgraded vortec cylinder-head/intake manifold kits for less than $1100
http://www.sdparts.com/catalog/engin...cHeadKits.aspx
A buddy of mine, 80crabvette, used vortec-heads & the RPM Air Gap under the hood of his 1980 Corvette this year (with headers, cam, and a Holley carb ), and he is very pleased with the results.
:confused"
I believe the L98-head comes on the ZZ4 crate motor, has 1.940"/1.500"-sized valves, and 58cc chambers, which will (as stated ) raise the squeeze higher than a 'standard' 64cc head:
the vortec heads have similiar-sized valves and 64cc chambers, but the port-configuration and chamber shape is different (hence, it's 'vortec' name? ) which promotes very good combustion and might work-well in your application, but they require a vortec-specific intake manifold.
It's possible that if you want to keep a Chevrolet piece on your car to think about the 'Fast Burn' aluminum cylinder head, used on the ZZ383 crate-motor, making 425 HP & 449 TQ:
with 62cc chambers, and 2.000"/1.550"-sized valves, screw-in studs, and a .530"-lift outta the box, these might work-well on your future 'long-arm' project.....
although they are about $1250 from Pace Performance in Ohio, the additional cost now would be off-set if you use them on your next motor.
Scoggin-Dickey sells upgraded vortec cylinder-head/intake manifold kits for less than $1100
http://www.sdparts.com/catalog/engin...cHeadKits.aspx
A buddy of mine, 80crabvette, used vortec-heads & the RPM Air Gap under the hood of his 1980 Corvette this year (with headers, cam, and a Holley carb ), and he is very pleased with the results.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
i can get a used pair of vortecs for $250 with 40k miles on them (and the right casting too). my vette is still a driver, so i want to use used parts. then i can also get a used vortec manifold for $90...
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 18
From: Florida
visit this site, and you will see that you arent going to pick up much if any power by switching to either of these heads. http://users.erols.com/srweiss/tablehdc.htm#Chevy
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
visit this site, and you will see that you arent going to pick up much if any power by switching to either of these heads. http://users.erols.com/srweiss/tablehdc.htm#Chevy
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 18
From: Florida
i dont know what head you have. 882 casting would be my guess, any way they dont flow as well as a vortec but the port is smaller and low lift numbers are pretty close only a few cfm more for the vortec, but with a bigger port. only at the top of your cam will you see much flow increase and its not their long, mainly in the .150 to .300 lift area. i am not trying to deter you from what you want to do, just help you get the most out of your time, and money.
Last edited by tt 383; Nov 28, 2007 at 04:55 PM.