Have a 1985 base w/80000 and has sat alot. It was my late fathers and while slowly working on ( mostly gathering up parts ) i have found what i consider a good deal on a 383 shortblock $ 750.00 It was machined by shop and a new 383 sealedpower kit with scat crank piston and rings In my travels i picked up a set of camel hump heads that had been worked with new springs and roller rockers and the guy had a new from summit still sealed in bag Lunati Bootlegger cam that was part of deal . My plan was to put those heads and cam on my vette. But now I am looking at fitment for cam and says that it is for 87-98 SBC which would be what I am buying but not my orig block So then will these heads still be ok with the new 383 shortblock ? Also was planning on staying with the 700r4 trans maybe get shift kit or if neccessary rebuild But will this still bolt to new block ? I had planned on small issues with electrical when decided to switch top end to carb Which I have all of needed But I was dealing with obd1 I think the 97 is obd2 So I may be going off the deep end here

Any knowledge appreciated

Mike C

 

..... Simply put … you need LT1 heads for an LT1 shortblock . The camel hump heads still have some nostalgic appeal … so sell them quick while they still do ! They have very little current value as performance heads …

 

OK Just a quick adjustment to this post Upon the correct research found out the block is not LT1 It is a Vortec And yes I read difference and they are huge The (reverse water flow )+ Still do not fully understand where it falls in the GM engine family ie last of Gen1 or is it LT based ? I am aware of LS difference But I did not find this out till after i bought another set ( used 97 LT1 Alum heads with stainless rockers and girdles ) thinking still great I can now use this new cam ( the Lunati for a LT1 ) Months later and now wrong parts to sell or trade I am now asking similar but different question from anyone Could I put these camel humps on my Vortec block ? My reading says yes as long as the intake is vortec and most have both bolt patterns to bolt to heads but I want to get more feedback and not assume. I have access to a Fresh from shop Cast heads for vortec and brand new duel plane if I am sure its what I need. I thought I was safe on this project and prolly would have been if I would have just added to the existing block but now I am all in. I moved the vette back to my moms garage where I have more room and took over the block, parts etc to do swap over there.That was where my late father and I were going to do the work ( originally he wanted to convert the top end because of injection problems that plagued it and kept him from driving it for much of last decade. Hopefully I will get help from a more experienced neighbor that built a motor for my brother, if not I will have to find someone to help. I dont want to just have it done, I want to be a part of. So at least now I think I am closer on the correct direction. I have found alot of good info across the forums I have been trying to educate myself with ( I did not even know the vortec was a different style I just thought it was a truck version lol ) At 58 I am still learning. I will try to update this as I move forward I have alot of pics of the parts the block etc As well as the base 85 white coupe but its nothing to see as of yet. I will be naming it El Diablo 2nd on back in tribute to my late dads split window he raced in 1960 @ 9 second 1/4 right here in sw fla . That track is long gone but we have a 1/8th mile within 30 miles so a long term goal is a second car / occasional w/e dragstrip Who knows I may hit the 9 in 8th lol But thats alot more $ away. Thanks all to the people who post and allow me to pick their brains. Mike

 

BTW I am not sure if now I should move over to C5 1997 up Forum Since block and add ons to the car are different If appropriate please let me know

 

the vortec heads are better than those old camel humps. Sell them off
The Gen 1 vortec will fit in your 85 youll need to regulate the fuel pressure down or come up with another solution..most carbs wont take more than 5-7 lbs or so.
c5 sec is lsx based....youre talking about 3 different gens of motors here.

The 90s era vortec were not lsx even though they called them and the ls vortec

I wouldnt buy/use the stuff you found theres plenty of affordable stuff for your 85. Even good performance iron heads.

 

What C409 and Cuisinartvette said.


To add and be more specific...
The GEN I Vortec engine does NOT have reverse cooling. The LT1 block and head does. If you have a GEN I Vortec block, then what you've got there is a block that is dimensionally the same, and interchangeable with your '85 block. The Gen I Vortec block is basically a typical Gen I SBC, with some very efficient, modern heads on it. Differences from you '85 block that will require attention are:
*Can't run a mechanical fuel pump as the pump-rod hole was never machined
*One piece rear main seal -smaller flywheel flange and flywheel needs a counter weight that your '85 doesn't have....so ANY later "One piece rear main seal", Chevy flywheel will work
*Provisions for roller cam
*If you keep the "Vortec" heads, you'll need a "Vortec" specific intake or intake base.
*Since the block is a basic Gen I SBC, you can change the heads to non Vortec heads (like the "Camel hump" heads) and run your current, '85 intake




Yes. You could put "camel hump" heads on that block. Would I recommend it? No way. Not if you have Vortec heads.



You don't NEED them, but if you have access to VORTEC heads....use them over any other iron GM head, IMO.


.

 

All good info here. I think I am on right track now I went to someone for intervention lol I was not clear in beginning I know now that what I bought was a 97 383 vortec shortblock ( sealed power scat crank )that i will be finishing with cam lifters pushrods and swapping into my 85 I am going to save all the incorrect parts that I got (sbc gen 1 intakes, valve covers ,) and after done may put all on the old 350 and sell , the LT1 heads and Roller cam will sell also Not too worried because I think that I bought right so I should be able to recoup. From what I see here and also a mech neighbor agreed that I should get the right vortec stuff . So will plan to do that this weekend.Then I can finish other correct parts needed.

 

Vortec has unique features but it's still just a sbc will bolt in without any major problems. Scoggins-Dickey has a tpi base intake for a Vortec heads. Accepts most of the stardard sbc parts. Need to be aware the can be both standard and metric bolt holes.