tshort

Has anybody heard anything about these or bought some yet? They are supposed to be a totally new head from Edelbrock and outperform all their current street heads.
My sources say they basically shift the power band lower in the rpm's.
I'm seriously considering changing my order on the stroker engine to this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1876216964

Good thing they are busy and haven't sent my engine yet.
What are some of your opinions?
By the way, this is the engine I currently have on order:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1875947396


[Modified by tshort, 3:50 PM 1/3/2003]

Ryan77

I'm also strongly considering this motor, along with the 440 hp version, but I think the E-tec heads are the same the LT1 heads, meaning they have reverse flow cooling right? If it doesn't require reverse fow cooling, then I will order this instead of the 440 hp version :yesnod:

mrvette

I dunno who-what,...BUT there are so many GLARING spelling errors on the site...it makes me wonder how they can turn out an engine without being able to graduate high school.....

OH yeh, I forgot, it's today's kids....

GENE

Ryan77

My guess would be that the machinists and mechanics are not the ones doing the typing........probably a website designer or someone in the office :rolleyes:

Smokehouse69

Etecs are Edelbrock's copy of GM Vortec heads. I think they even require the same type of Vortec manifolds. They are great head from what I've heard and out flow just about heads out there. The Etec 170s are for 350 engines and are roughly comparable to stock Vortecs (same valve size) but they flow about 15% better over most lifts. The Etec 200s have 200cc intake runners and outflow most of the larger runner heads on the market, they are better on 383 and up SBC. They aren't reverse flow cooling and should bolt on any pre-87 short block.

tshort

Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to talk with Mark again tonight or tomorrow about the E Tec engine and think I'm going to end up with the 470hp version.

Ryan77

Now that I know that they are not reverse flow cooling, I'll definately be going that route :yesnod: , 470 vs. 440 for only $100 more :eek: I'll take that any day. There's no other restrictions since the vortec style intake is already there right? I'm not too fimiliar with vortec style parts.

Smokehouse69

I don't know of any other differences that Vortec style heads have, other than the exhaust ports are about 1/4" higher than old style heads. I don't think that will be a real problem.
Oh, yeah GM Vortec intake gaskets are reusable, and only have four bolts in each side.

69stingray

They also have excellent Intake/Exhaust ratios. I read an article where they compared them to the the "Fast Burn" heads. I would curious to hear how you like them.


[Modified by 69stingray, 9:55 PM 1/3/2003]

Ryan77

I have the new Edelbrock catalog and was looking it over, the exhaust ports are .200" higher than the stock heads, but that's very small so there should be no problem at all, plus they bolt up to almost any headers/exhaust manifolds and will except standard or centerbolt valve covers. The numbers for the E-Tec 200's are 200cc intake ports, 78cc exhaust ports, and 2.02" intake and 1.60" exhaust valves. They outflow the fastburn aluminum heads by 10% on the intake and 17% on the exhaust.

Steve Straus

It's not a website designer doing this, It's Mark and Lance (the guys that run AR). They're in a little town out in the woods in VA near Summerduck raceway.

They really pay attention to what they are doing. One time when I was at their shop they had a pallete of brand new heads, probably 300 or so that were stacked waiting to go back to the manufacturer. little things like casting imperfections and hairline cracks in the bowls, stuff that most people wouldn't have noticed. They may not be the best spellers in the world, but I can personally vouch that it's not indicative of the type of work to expect from them.

tshort

Yes, they really seem like a first class shop. Mark has been very forthwright with me. I was originally interested in their 406 engine which is more expensive but he convinced me that it wouldn't suit my needs and that I needed one of their more streetable engines. If they were purely just out to make a buck I know others that would have simply sold me the more expensive engine. He has also said that if I'm not happy with the engine for any reason before bolting it in to just send it back.
And yes, the grammar in their auctions raises some questions but I work in an industry where some of the best work is done by guys that didn't even graduate from High School and can hardly write/spell. As long as they know their poopie and do good work that's fine by me.
But back to the point of this thread...yes, the E Tec heads will only work with Vortec style intake and they are building the AR engines to accomodate for this. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with this engine, I just need to work out the details and logistics with Mark.
Thanks for all your replies guys. :thumbs:


[Modified by tshort, 10:38 PM 1/3/2003]

Smokehouse69

I don't think you'll be sorry, it is going to be a killer engine.

AlwaysWave

Here what a tech rep at Edelbrock mailed to me about the flow comparisons.

Valve lift---------------100-------200-------300-------400-------500-------600
Peformer Head----67/58--130/108--183/144--226/169--229/175--232/182
Etec--------------------64/54--130/104--186/140--220/169--232/183--238/190

Based on these numbers and considering that Edelbrock reshaped the combustion chamber in the Performers to match the Etec, I'd go with the Performer and keep a conventional manifold.


[Modified by AlwaysWave, 12:57 AM 1/4/2003]

jackson

Steve:
I've also looked at these guys' motors & many seem a good deal ... quite impressive numbers for the $. I note that several guys here have them & are happy. I've been wondering though? ... where does the shop get its HP & TQ numbers? When you visited shop, did you see a dyno?

mrvette

I have a 2 year old set of performers on my engine...and they seem fine...thing is...does anyone make anything in the way of a DPFI induction for the etec/vortec heads...??? I haven't seen it yet....and with the flow rates so similar, where is the improvement of the etec over the plain old performers I have???

GENE

69stingray

I did not know that.

In regards to FI, I have seen a TPI manifold for Vortec heads somewhere, I think maybe Scoggin-Dickey, actually, they have a crate engine with the Vortec TPI manifold, Vortec heads, LT4 "Hot" Cam. 357 HP & 416 TQ @ 4200 RPM. Edelbrock has an E-Tec crate engine with thier Mutli-Port Fuel Injection, therefore, they must offer EFI for vortec style heads.

Edelbrock Crate engine: 9.5:1 compression, E-Tec 170, Pro-Flor EFI and I think thier Performer RPM Roller Cam (specs.?) = 425 HP.

Ryan77

But the engine from AR Racing comes with the Performer RPM made for the Vortec style heads, so there's no need to buy your own manifold, and with the motor's putting out 470 hp, I doubt anyone will be doing any more mods to them.

Tshort-- let us know how you like the engine once it's installed, I won't be able to buy mine until the summer :(


[Modified by Ryan77, 2:35 PM 1/4/2003]

GrandSportC3

470 HP instead of 440 HP for about the same price... I wouldn't think twice... However - you will have more HP than me.. That's not fair :cry :cry :cry :D :D

:cheers:

Olivier

Ryan77

Maybe we too will get into the 11's, I know you're very close :yesnod: