http://www.airflowresearch.com/index.php?cPath=24_117 Looks like AFR has new 190cc vortec style head. Looks very promising, i have heard 275cfm at .500 lift. Not to shabby. I do not know if these are currently available but they are on the site. Also brought back their 220cc head in the new Eliminator series.

Thanks for posting info. I just saw them on AFR's website the other day. I am very curious about these as they bridge a gap between the 180's and 195's. I'm looking to upgrade 350 with AFR's and a FIRST intake. These heads would be perfect. I found the below press release that states 275 cfm at 0.5". Looks like a great head. Hopefully AFR will post flow numbers soon.

http://pr.alexadv.info/sb-chevy-elim...rtec-head.html

Just another head option for us to argue about

For those with vortec setups this should be one of the better available vortec heads thats for sure. Not sure how they compare to the large port GM vortecs that are out there. Atleast these are aluminum and much lighter.

NICE! Thanks for posting this.

AFR has flow results posted on website and press release of 275 cfm at 0.5 was correct. Comparing flow #'s the 180's, Vortec190 and 195's all have same exhaust port flows. Intake flows of Vortec 190's is very similar to 195's and actually higher at lower lifts! I'm assuming that since AFR tested heads, test methods were similar for all heads.

Flow at 0.5" lift (int/exh cfm), (E/I ratio)
180 - 260/207, 79.6%
190 - 276/207, 75%
195 - 274/207, 75.5%

Exhaust intake ratio is lower with 190 but still looks like a great head for 350 or 383 build. Interesting that they chose to make Vortec head at 190cc's. Probably figured that most Vortec setups are used on strong 350's or 383's where this size would be good fit.

AFR strongly markets their 195's for all street strip builds between 350 cubes and 400+ cubes, and for good reason they work well on all those motors between 350-600hp. So they probably wanted to be near 195 for the vortec head to better fit a wider variety of applications.

But in a sense, i dont know why they would make a vortec head anyway unless its cheaper than their street L98 based heads. If you were building a motor, I would think you would stick to regular sbc heads if you had to buy new since the price is the same, and for the fact that there are many more sbc intakes for non vortec heads than the vortec intakes. So in that sense I dont understand why this head was developed but I still like the idea to fill a void in the vortec market.

It's for guys like me who have a set of stock vortec heads that are about maxed out and want to step up, but already have the intake and other related parts. it'd be interesting to put it next to a 195 and look at the ports and chambers side by side

Old thread,but has someone tested these heads(compared to vortec heads)

not too bad of a price from summit. 1500ish for the pair.

would much rather put that money into my ls1 than the 'ol standby sbc though. lot better results.

I called AFR a while back asking some head questions.They told me that the Vortec 190's were basically their 180 heads with raised port to match vortec standard. At least we gen 1 guys have another head option

That's what its coming down to these days isn't it.

Heck I was reading the other day that we SBC guys are a lot like the old Flathead Ford guys who wouldn't switch to the Mouse motor when it first came out. Makes me wonder how long it will be until I cave to the Gen III/IV motor myself.

I hear you. I'm about done myself. Somebody pull a few cogs out of Father Time's clock.

I have vortec heads and intake on my tpi car. I could use these.

The AFR heads are the ONLY way to go! Also don't just look at the peak flow numbers, their mid lift numbers are outstanding! The new Eliminator series is great, they have LS series style valves that have smaller metric stems in an old sbc head and save 600 grams on the valvetrain mass!!! In side by side dyno testing between the original AFR and new Eliminator they were seeing something like 600 RPM higher redline before valve float due to the lessened mass! All of their heads are also CNC machined and a perfect casting. The 195's outflow Dart's 215's, that should tell you how effecient they are. Last motor I built had the 195's on a 350 all motor, pump gas, full exhaust, on drag radials went 10.97@120 with a 1.53 60 ft. With the cars weight and times it was about 520hp on pump gas and we drove it everywhere. Another thing to mention is you need less timing with these heads, they are more effecient. Stock heads on a performance build usually like 36-38 degrees of timing, we ran 32-34 with the AFR's.

Wish they made more vortec heads, even 195 and 210's would be nice.

Well there is a 207cc big port vortec head out there. Havent seen much done with it but looks like its promising for some bigger inch motors. Some have claimed its on par with the GM fastburn 210's

GMPP 'Large Port' iron Vortec heads #25534431.

This is an old thread but I am going to revive it.

Is anyone running these heads and how are they, what were you running before? Does the raised exhaust port affect anything or do they fit and run well? How do they compare to either the large port vortec's or the e-tec's? Thanks.

As I mentioned above the AFR's work very well. Look up some flow charts, the proof is in the pudding. The 195 AFR out flows the Dart 215 if that tells you how much more effecient they are. You just can't lose when looking for out of the box bolt on power period!

I have heard good things about the 195's, but have not seen too much about the 190 vortec's. Who has them and runs them? How are they?