Vortec Heads and Cam
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 3
Vortec Heads and Cam
Hey guys,
I have a buddy who is looking to unload a set of Vortec heads and a cam.
the heads have 194/150 valves
Fits any small block - haven't been drilled or tapped
Suposedly the heads make 50 extra HP and 50 ft lbs of torque
The cam is Isky .580 intake .54 exhaust Hydrolic roller with lifters
So I need to know:
Are these something that would be a good application for the vette? I assume that these heads are the same as the ZZ$ heads - but cast instead of aluminum.
Also he has a TH 350 with a stage 3 shift kit and manual valve body - is this a bolt in - or would it require modifications?
Carl Johansson
Carl Johansson
I have a buddy who is looking to unload a set of Vortec heads and a cam.
the heads have 194/150 valves
Fits any small block - haven't been drilled or tapped
Suposedly the heads make 50 extra HP and 50 ft lbs of torque
The cam is Isky .580 intake .54 exhaust Hydrolic roller with lifters
So I need to know:
Are these something that would be a good application for the vette? I assume that these heads are the same as the ZZ$ heads - but cast instead of aluminum.
Also he has a TH 350 with a stage 3 shift kit and manual valve body - is this a bolt in - or would it require modifications?
Carl Johansson
Carl Johansson
Last edited by Carl Johansson; Jan 4, 2005 at 06:37 PM. Reason: add more info
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
Likes: 1
From: Modesto CA
Originally Posted by Carl Johansson
Are these something that would be a good application for the vette? I assume that these heads are the same as the ZZ$ heads - but cast instead of aluminum. Also he has a TH 350 with a stage 3 shift kit and manual valve body - is this a bolt in - or would it require modifications?
On the Th350, I do believe it's a direct bolt-in, but you'll have to change out the C-Beam and a few other things, don't really know that much on the conversion.
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay Area
I have the Vortec heads on my engine now. They are great heads for the money, but that cam is not the cam you want. The Vortec heads peak out at 239 cfm at .550" and taper off sharpley after that, also they will perform much better with a dual pattern cam that has a lot more exh duration and lift, since that cam has the exact opposite it would basicly suck. Something like the XE276HR or the ZZ4 cam with 1.6 RR. Either would be an excellent combo, I am running the XE268H with 1.6RR and that brings the lift up to the neighbor hood of the XE276HR. Untuned it is a screamer!!!!! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by TIMSPEED
I'm going with the Vortec Heads, but with the Vortec heads, you HAVE to have the Scoggin-Dickey Vortec TPI baseplate. Also, those heads, in stock form, will only handle about .450 lift, but if you swap the springs to Comp BeeHive Springs, and get them machined to work, they'll accept up to I BELIEVE .600 lift. The Vortec Heads are nothing like the ZZ4 heads, the ZZ4 heads are stock 88-91 Corvette Heads.
On the Th350, I do believe it's a direct bolt-in, but you'll have to change out the C-Beam and a few other things, don't really know that much on the conversion.
On the Th350, I do believe it's a direct bolt-in, but you'll have to change out the C-Beam and a few other things, don't really know that much on the conversion.
Also did you guys know the GM Performance parts also has a new Vortec head offering. There are two versions, with LT4 hollow stem valves. One has 175cc intake runners, and 65cc exhaust runners. The larger of the two has 206cc intake runners and 76cc exhaust runners. These heads should offer exceptional flow for the money. At about $1000 per assembled set these are a pretty good bargain.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Timspeed and mean8t are right. You will need to buy the Scoggin Dickey intake base... but the rest of the stock intake bolts right up. The Vortec heads are a great head for a stock replacement mod... in other words if your entire motor is stock and you want bolt on hp and you don't plan on going insane with it... vortec is a gr8 head.
I don't think those heads will work with that cam as stated above... but if I'm not mistaken, there is an aluminum version of the Vortec that will handle that cam and more... but I could be wrong. I had to trash my SPDC catalog before my wife divorced me for spending our vacation savings on more car parts.
I don't think those heads will work with that cam as stated above... but if I'm not mistaken, there is an aluminum version of the Vortec that will handle that cam and more... but I could be wrong. I had to trash my SPDC catalog before my wife divorced me for spending our vacation savings on more car parts.
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
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay Area
Originally Posted by tjwong
Also did you guys know the GM Performance parts also has a new Vortec head offering. There are two versions, with LT4 hollow stem valves. One has 175cc intake runners, and 65cc exhaust runners. The larger of the two has 206cc intake runners and 76cc exhaust runners. These heads should offer exceptional flow for the money. At about $1000 per assembled set these are a pretty good bargain.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I think the aluminum fast burn head is 210 cc's if I'm not mistaken. For the money, Vortec heads make excellent torque- About 40lbs more than the L98 113's. You'll definitely feel that. $500 well spent
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Originally Posted by mean8t
I just looked at those heads and they look great, but aren't they in the same price range of AL fast burn heads?
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay Area
I put my motor together about a year ago and have only driven it for about 6 months and it is a great motor. It still is untuned and running lean up top so we will see.
Last edited by mean8t; Jan 5, 2005 at 12:28 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay Area
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
I think the aluminum fast burn head is 210 cc's if I'm not mistaken. For the money, Vortec heads make excellent torque- About 40lbs more than the L98 113's. You'll definitely feel that. $500 well spent
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by mean8t
In fact with the stock vortec heads, the scoggin-dickey base, and 1 3/4" open headers they made 300 chp on an otherwise stock TPI with an untuned 87 computer. They made pretty good torque but they said that they could have made more with 1 5/8" and a good dual exhaust. I think it was an article in Chevy High Performance as I remember.
That's where I got my info! 
