Vortec Heads
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Spring Lake NC
Vortec Heads
Has anybody tryed/seen/used/is using the vortec heads with the new scoggindicky vortec TPI manifold? This looks like a decent set up They have seen 5o hp increases on a stock L98. When they added a cam, injectors and rockers there was an imprissive 375hp. And that was with the stock computer and throttle body.
Just curious if anyone has any experience with these heads on a TPI.
:steering:
Just curious if anyone has any experience with these heads on a TPI.
:steering:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,067
Likes: 1,723
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: Vortec Heads (perryroger86vette)
A couple people have them, but I wouldnt fool with the Vortec heads.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: Vortec Heads (1_piece_at_a_time)
Like just about any other iron head out there, Vortec's are going to require some additional work to take a cam with any noticable lift.
Lots of proven combos out there recently though. Unfortunately, most that I have seen are with a carb'd manifold, so it is hard to guesstimate what the resulting increase would be on a LTR style manifold.
Lots of proven combos out there recently though. Unfortunately, most that I have seen are with a carb'd manifold, so it is hard to guesstimate what the resulting increase would be on a LTR style manifold.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Spring Lake NC
Re: Vortec Heads (HighHopes85)
That is a good point HighHopes85. But... on the web page http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...d=277&pid=9063
they list a upgraded head package which increases the max valve lift from .450 to .525. To me this sounds like a pretty decent package, with Z28 valve springs and LT4 retainers.
If nobody here can give me witness that these heads are usless on a TPI, I just may become the forum lab rat. I like this setup, because it has no huge following and not may people are doing it yet. I like to be the one to open the door to a great thing. I think these heads have some potential, I just cant decide which ones will be the best, I think gmpp has aluminum castings as well.
If you are using this set up, please chime in.
they list a upgraded head package which increases the max valve lift from .450 to .525. To me this sounds like a pretty decent package, with Z28 valve springs and LT4 retainers.
If nobody here can give me witness that these heads are usless on a TPI, I just may become the forum lab rat. I like this setup, because it has no huge following and not may people are doing it yet. I like to be the one to open the door to a great thing. I think these heads have some potential, I just cant decide which ones will be the best, I think gmpp has aluminum castings as well.
If you are using this set up, please chime in.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Re: Vortec Heads (perryroger86vette)
Don't have any first hand experience with these heads but everything I've read about them shows them to be a good head capable of making a lot of HP for a great price. GMPP makes an alum. version called the fast burn.
Check out any of the popular mags like Hot Rod, Car Craft or Super Chevy. They've always got a build up using vortec heads.
Check out any of the popular mags like Hot Rod, Car Craft or Super Chevy. They've always got a build up using vortec heads.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 3
From: Lafayette IN
Re: Vortec Heads (perryroger86vette)
I wasn't saying that they wouldn't be good...I was just pointing out that they don't come ready to run a higher lift cam unless you have the work done. Wanted to make sure you had seen the options and footnotes, which it looks like you had.
It all depends on where you want to go. I checked them out online and they said that the Vortec heads and lower intake combo produced 300 hp on an L98 setup. I got the same results out of a flat tappet hydraulic cam and 1.6rr swap (er, kinda...if you go by ETs and HP guesstimation) plus some of the free mods.
The aluminum ones have a 215cc intake runner, don't they?
The only thing I have learned...the next time I do my setup, it is going to be what I want it to be the first time. If I learned that 2 times ago...
Good luck :) -Matt
It all depends on where you want to go. I checked them out online and they said that the Vortec heads and lower intake combo produced 300 hp on an L98 setup. I got the same results out of a flat tappet hydraulic cam and 1.6rr swap (er, kinda...if you go by ETs and HP guesstimation) plus some of the free mods.
The aluminum ones have a 215cc intake runner, don't they?
The only thing I have learned...the next time I do my setup, it is going to be what I want it to be the first time. If I learned that 2 times ago...
Good luck :) -Matt
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
Re: Vortec Heads (perryroger86vette)
I'm strongly considering them also; when it comes time for a rebuild. You can't beat the price, and they can make some HP. The Fast-Burn heads are good I'm sure, but for that much money, I'd go with AFR-180s. I'll be watching this one too. Good luck.
:chevy
:chevy
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Re: Vortec Heads (Curveit)
Positive: Cheap good performance
Negative: Machine work and new springs for higher lift cams. Extra cost of new intake.
End: Although the heads are hard to beat on the bang for buck, but with the additional cost of the manifold - you might be in the same price range as a set of Trick Flow heads or just a bit less than AFRs.
It's a good choice if you have no parts to begin with. If you are just swapping heads, the value diminishes quickly.
I had them as stock on my 96 half ton truck. Great power advantage over the 1995 throttle body motor with regular bath tub style heads. How much is due to the heads? Dunno.
Negative: Machine work and new springs for higher lift cams. Extra cost of new intake.
End: Although the heads are hard to beat on the bang for buck, but with the additional cost of the manifold - you might be in the same price range as a set of Trick Flow heads or just a bit less than AFRs.
It's a good choice if you have no parts to begin with. If you are just swapping heads, the value diminishes quickly.
I had them as stock on my 96 half ton truck. Great power advantage over the 1995 throttle body motor with regular bath tub style heads. How much is due to the heads? Dunno.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,134
Likes: 531
From: Glenbeulah Wi
Re: Vortec Heads (perryroger86vette)
I did not try them on my 355 vette engine but I am using them on my 305 TPI 1988 Firebird and they work excellent. On the 305 I am running a completly stock 125,000 mile bottom end, with a ZZ-4 cam, Vortec heads and SDPC intake manifold, AS&M large tube runners, stock 48mm throttle body and MAC headers. The larger chamber heads dropped my compression ratio to 8.9 to 1 but the engine still responded with excellent results. The 305 made 267 RWHP and 327 RWTQ numbers with a 5 speed which is approximately 315 FWHP and 375 FWTQ for the 305. This combination has netted me a 13.53 ET at 101.5 MPH with a full weight Firebird. If I could drop my 60 ft times to 1.90 or better from 1.95's that I ussually run I would expect 13.30's from the car. On a properly built 350 I would expect 350 plus FWHP and 12 second ET's.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Spring Lake NC
Re: Vortec Heads (bjankuski)
the setup that you have on your firebird bjnkuski is approxemetly the setup that i am considering. and it looks like you have had some pretty good experience with them.
some people are talking about the fastburn gmpp heads but did you realize that the vortec is a fast burn chamber.
I have realized that there will be extra cost of the intake and that there are other heads out there, i am not considering this as my only option nor is this going to happen soon for me. I was just wondering if anyone has had any good or bad experiences with these heads on a TPI.
some people are talking about the fastburn gmpp heads but did you realize that the vortec is a fast burn chamber.
I have realized that there will be extra cost of the intake and that there are other heads out there, i am not considering this as my only option nor is this going to happen soon for me. I was just wondering if anyone has had any good or bad experiences with these heads on a TPI.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
From: memphis tn
Re: Vortec Heads (perryroger86vette)
i will be trying this when i finally get my car back together. already have the heads , manifold, etc. you'll probably be running long before me though..
just a little info: according to s.d.p.c.'s flow sheets, the iron vortecs flow pretty even w/ cnc ported Lt4's below .500 lift and actually flow lots better than the fast burns.
just a little info: according to s.d.p.c.'s flow sheets, the iron vortecs flow pretty even w/ cnc ported Lt4's below .500 lift and actually flow lots better than the fast burns.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Laval Quebec
Re: Vortec Heads (neverendingproject)
I have a set on my L98 GTA, and I am very happy with them.
My car stock ran 15.01@89 MPH. The heads, headers and full exhaust work has knocked it down to 13.7@99 MPH. That's with stock cam(L98) and completely stock tpi minus the base.
I just received my 1.6 Roller Rockers and I am finishing up my siamesed runners and plenum. I suspect with those I will be at the 13.4-5@102 MPH. T
I consider that pretty respectable for a fully loaded GTA on street tires. All this and I am getting better mileage than before(@25+ MPG).
The heads alone are good for 50-60 HP on my engine, I paid $200cdn for mine so that's a pretty good hp/price ratio.
For a mild street setup I highly recommend them. The cost of the intake is not a negative, because if you purchase a set of AFRs or some other good flowing head, you'd want to change your intake anyway(Hiflow bases are expensive).
You can also opt for the GM RamJet intake or a MiniRam III, your options are increasing.
My car stock ran 15.01@89 MPH. The heads, headers and full exhaust work has knocked it down to 13.7@99 MPH. That's with stock cam(L98) and completely stock tpi minus the base.
I just received my 1.6 Roller Rockers and I am finishing up my siamesed runners and plenum. I suspect with those I will be at the 13.4-5@102 MPH. T
I consider that pretty respectable for a fully loaded GTA on street tires. All this and I am getting better mileage than before(@25+ MPG).
The heads alone are good for 50-60 HP on my engine, I paid $200cdn for mine so that's a pretty good hp/price ratio.
For a mild street setup I highly recommend them. The cost of the intake is not a negative, because if you purchase a set of AFRs or some other good flowing head, you'd want to change your intake anyway(Hiflow bases are expensive).
You can also opt for the GM RamJet intake or a MiniRam III, your options are increasing.
