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Wanting to move to the Vortec heads/TPI setup on my '88 L98.
Looks like finding the Vortec TPI manifold might be a challenge, since Edelbrock has discontinued them, so the first order of business will be finding the manifold. I'm still at least 2-3 months out before I can get serious about spending money (owe income tax this year), but want to start planning now.
The basic question I have is about the heads---while Vortec heads are relatively plentiful at junkyards with careful searching, I'm wondering since GM Performance sells brand new Vortec heads loaded and ready to go for a little over $300.00 each, wouldn't it be a better deal overall to buy new ones, versus buying junkyard heads that should really be rebuilt before use? I'm thinking while the heads are cheaper from the junkyard, the cost isn't all that much more once you factor in the rebuild cost.
I agree with you. How much are you going to spend on machine work on a used set of heads? Probably end up spending more on the used set, than you would if you just bought new.
Manifold cost is pretty close, but the fuel rail and fuel pressure regulator would also have to be replaced, negating the cost benefit.
The Stealth Ram is a nice system, but since I really don't anticipate going much further than the Vortec heads, and perhaps a nice street cam to pump up low/midrange torque just a touch, I'd prefer retaining the stock TPI setup.
I agree with your logic for stock.vortec heads...especially since theyre prone to cracking. ...although keep this in mind. Scoggin dickey sells vortecs set up and ready to run with screw in studs and spring thatll handle lift up to around .530. More money of course, but its still a deal considering theyre new heads. Under $1000 for both. ....stockers have lift limitations around .475 ish....and I know id would want more lift.
I look on SD's site and I only see the stock vortec heads there. They used to sell the modified ones machined for more lift with better springs etc, but from what i've heard and seen they sell only the stock ones now.
Just found 'em. Here's the part number. SDPC SD8060RA2 ......they're listed at $2000. HAS to be a misprint. When I was lookin' at em they were under $500 per head. 4 something.......but certainly not $2k.
Im in the same boat. Id like another 50hp out of my new toy (91Z 350/A4) and Id like to keep the stock TPI setup. heads and cam always seem to do the trick, its just getting the tune dialed in perfect which hangs a lot of people up.
The stock vortec heads will only allow you to run a low lift- stock type cam. You don't want that for all the effort it takes to do the swap. The modified vortecs just have a simple mod (there is info online about how to do this, or any machine shop shold be able to do) to allow for more lift. ( i believe the guides are shortened) and I think the spring seat is modified for a larger spring. You want to run a decent cam. A stock like cam will not gain you very much with just the heads. So just stock/used/new vortec heads, modded for more lift with heavier springs is what you want and you can get that for not a whole lot depending on how you plan, the base is the biggest expense. Really while its all apart you should port everything (Heads. base, runners plenum)to get the most out of it. You will need a chip burned for vortec timing and fuel requirements & should run aftermarket intake runners to make it all run reasonably well. It's not that hard you just need to plan your combo.
Vortec heads are better than other stock iron heads by a lot. But you can get inexpensive aluminum heads like oh say PROMAXX for less than you are going to put into an intake and machine work for the Vortecs, and there are DART Iron eagles as well and either will perform better than the Vortecs, and you can use your existing intake.
its just getting the tune dialed in perfect which hangs a lot of people up.
I purchased my '87 Iroc with no motor and later found out the harness was complete junk. It had been hacked up by the previous owner and then the mice had their way with it too. I am going to go with a FAST ez-efi retro setup (302000) for my 5.7 vortec build. The setup comes with a harness, wide band O2, self tuning computer, and the handheld programmer. Found one for around $850 and figured after I bought a new stock harness, had a new chip programmed, and had the car tuned that I would probably spend less money by going with the FAST system.
I purchased my '87 Iroc with no motor and later found out the harness was complete junk. It had been hacked up by the previous owner and then the mice had their way with it too. I am going to go with a FAST ez-efi retro setup (302000) for my 5.7 vortec build. The setup comes with a harness, wide band O2, self tuning computer, and the handheld programmer. Found one for around $850 and figured after I bought a new stock harness, had a new chip programmed, and had the car tuned that I would probably spend less money by going with the FAST system.
I have a FAST Classic ECU and harness setup for sale for $600. It cost me $3,000 from FAST back in 2005. There is a thread in the classifieds section with pics. I picked up 99rwhp over a modified prom in my 91z28.
How about the heads that GM put on the new ZZ6 engine? I think they are the 210cc Fastburn heads. Im not sure if there is a TPI intake that will seal up to the intake ports on it though.
I have a FAST Classic ECU and harness setup for sale for $600. It cost me $3,000 from FAST back in 2005. There is a thread in the classifieds section with pics. I picked up 99rwhp over a modified prom in my 91z28.
The issue I have is that I have no experience in tuning computer controlled engines. Your setup is a steal at $600, but I just don't think it would be the best system for my current build.
How about the heads that GM put on the new ZZ6 engine? I think they are the 210cc Fastburn heads. Im not sure if there is a TPI intake that will seal up to the intake ports on it though.
I have always been surprised that Fastburn heads never gained much popularity. There basically aluminum Vortecs. The price is good and they were shown in testing to pick up about 40hp stock for stock vs. Vortecs on a ZZ4 crate motor.
$2000 isnt a misprint. Those heads were $399 about 10 years ago now they are a fortune. Most people will buy bare heads and do the work to them and be into the heads for about $1000 or so. For a few hundred more you buy afr ($1500) or an aluminum head and not have to buy a vortec lower if you already have an aftermarket base.
$2000 isnt a misprint. Those heads were $399 about 10 years ago now they are a fortune. Most people will buy bare heads and do the work to them and be into the heads for about $1000 or so. For a few hundred more you buy afr ($1500) or an aluminum head and not have to buy a vortec lower if you already have an aftermarket base.
^^Could be the new Vortecs that are out. Supposed to be pretty bad a$$ for iron heads.
Those RA2 heads were $399 less than a year ago. Trust me, I was looking at them. ....and while I don't have specific knowledge as to their price, I can't think of another head you can buy out of the box for CLOSE to $2000 PER HEAD...AFR's are like what, $800 a head? No way some slightly modded stock vortecs are $2000 a head. BUT...ya never know.
....and the new Vortec Bowtie's are probably pretty bad azz. The old casting was pretty darn good, and about $1300 for a pair. I talked to SDPC a good bit about both the RA2 and the Bowtie. ..this new casting to my understanding wasn't so much a performance upgrade but rather some cleanup/houskeeping type things to improve the head. Overall flow was "supposed" to be about the same.
Ultimately....I went with a traditional aluminum RHS head.
For 2 grand a head they had better bolt themselves on and last five life times. No iron head is worth that no matter how good it is. Hell 18 or 15 deg. race aluminum heads aren't even that much.
Check out Blueprint engine 190 cc vortecs under a grand and are really nice I just installed some on my build , fired it up last night, looks like they are going to be bad ***.
02-05-2016, 08:06 AM
