Need water routing help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 371
Likes: 65
From: south wilmington il.
Need water routing help
I acquired this 72 sbc with what I was told are vortech heads. The guy I got it from has passed away and can't find any info on what to do about which pump to use, how to plug or not the water crossover holes like the lt1 has. I first thought these were lt1 due to the holes for water in front of head like my lt1. I don't know if the head was drilled for the bypass or not. The engine ran in a 65 nova but was taken apart and rebuilt before I got like this. There is a 906 number on the head indicating it is a vortech but the front and rear face of heads don't look like this nor have these holes that I can find. Don't really want to take it apart but cant run it without knowing how to run a cooling system. He supplied some AN fittings that screwed into the heads and a piece of hose from each head to a tee but that all I had. Would it use a old style pump or new reverse flow or reverse rotation. It had the old style alternator and power steering brackets. I want to put this in a 75 vette I might be buying, plus I got a new built 350 trans and converter with it. Any info would be great.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 879
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Can't say too much on the drilled holes, but I think my buddies engine had that so ill ask him..
as far as rotation of water pump, you can use either, depends on how you set the belt(s) up..
as far as rotation of water pump, you can use either, depends on how you set the belt(s) up..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 371
Likes: 65
From: south wilmington il.
In the first pic I need to know why the holes for pipe fittings are on the front and rear face of the heads like an lt1 head. Looking down on the intake you can see two water ports on top of manifold and two in front edge for sensors. I'm wondering would a hose from the front of each head got to the holes on top of manifold and add a crossover line to the rear holes or just block the rear holes. 🤔
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 879
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
In the first pic I need to know why the holes for pipe fittings are on the front and rear face of the heads like an lt1 head. Looking down on the intake you can see two water ports on top of manifold and two in front edge for sensors. I'm wondering would a hose from the front of each head got to the holes on top of manifold and add a crossover line to the rear holes or just block the rear holes. 🤔
I have a vortec intake. The front facing hole i use for the temp sender. The 2 holes on each side i use for temp switches for the 2 fans i have. In the rear of the manifold i ran hoses to the thermostat hosing i have that is tapped for fittings.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 879
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Are those holes threaded? Hard to tell. Not alot of meat there...
Nevermind i reread your post that said you had 2 fittings for the heads...
Are the backs of the heads drilled as well (so 4 big holes total)? Or just the front?
Nevermind i reread your post that said you had 2 fittings for the heads...
Are the backs of the heads drilled as well (so 4 big holes total)? Or just the front?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 371
Likes: 65
From: south wilmington il.
Yes they are exactly like the lt1 heads that use the crossover pipe on the rear. I can't find any vortech heads that look like these, but they are marked 906 and supposedly came off a 96 to 98 chevy. The rear is drilled and tapped like the front with pipe threads.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 879
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I'd take the valve cover off and get casting #s at this point.