Saw the advertisement in a mag but don't remember who the seller was. These are stock with the exception of the good springs for higher lift applications.

I believe Scoggin Dickey sells the upgraded heads.

That's what i thought but was not sure. Thanks.

Anyone know the price for these upgraded heads? I think it was about 560$ for the set.

I believe it's somewhere around $320 a head which would comme out to about $640. They sell a kit with the heads, gaskets, and a performer RPM intake manifold (edelbrock, vortec type) and It's a good deal. I forget what it costs though, IIRC it's about $900.

Do they sell a kit with the tpi base? That would be good deal if they did that.

Actually, I think they do, but it's a little more exspensive than the kit with the carbed intake.

Just found it on their site. Here's what it includes:
This kit includes Our Upgraded Vortec cylinder heads #SD8060A, head gaskets, head bolts, rocker arms, SDPC TPI Vortec Intake Manifold #12498060, intake gaskets and 12 point intake bolts.
It has upgraded springs and retainers for up to .575" lift and is designed for roller cams.
Kit is currently priced at $1,269.95
PN: SD8060RATPI
Here's a direct
Link.

competition products sells pro topline vortec heads set up for 510 lift for $500 brand new. Upgrade to 550 lift for $580. I know because i just bought some.

heres there number 1-800-233-0199

I have yet to find better prices than theirs.

Are the Pro-Topline Vortecs direct replacements, or were they the ones that require custom lenght pushrods, etc??

The Pro Toplines are direct replacements. The only difference between them and the GM Vortec castings are a few nice features Pro added on. Screw in studs, slightly better ports, thicker castings, etc...

I just put valvesprings on my vortecs that are good to .490 lift, and it was easy as cake. I bought the heads for $250 and the springs were under $60. The valvespring compressor was $15 from Sears, and it took ~2½ hours total. Fun stuff. If you want more info go see my thread in the TBI forum

can you get the pro toplines in aluminum in the vortec style? If not I may just go with the iron, not sure though yet. I have found that this is the hardest part of building an engine. Picking the heads.

What does .500 lift mean? Heads open and close the cylindar, letting in gas and air and letting out exhaust? Is it .500 inches, meaning thats how much it opens? thanks!

I'm not sure if Pro makes aluminum vortec style heads, I think they might though. I do know that Edelborock has E-tec's that are aluminum, which is basically the same thing Pro did with theirs, improve upon the General's design.

Codename 47,
The heads have valves in them that control the flow of air (fuel mixture) and exhaust gasses out of the motor. The springs close the valve and opening the valve is done by the lifters folowing the contour of the cam, which they are linked to the rocker arms by pushrods and the rockers push the valve open (the cam lobe overcomes the strength of the spring to open the valve, and when the lobe goes back down the spring forces the valve closed again). Anyways, valve lift is measured in inches, and in a SBC it is usually between .400" and .550" (typical street motors). When we say .500 lift we actually mean .500" (or half inch) valve lift.

Hope that helps explain it to you, if you'd like a more detailed explination, just let me know. Hopefully I didn't confuse you further, I tried to simplify it, but it's kind of late so I might have left somthing out...

Hey thanks alot kfoley, I understand the concept of what action is happening now. Thanks for the quick blurb of info!

No problem, anytime...