Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

max lift on stock vortec heads??

Old 07-19-2003, 04:22 PM
  #1  
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
 
89formula#1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Cinnaminson, NJ
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 Formula
Engine: Carbed 5.7
Transmission: TKO-600
max lift on stock vortec heads??

Hey guys what is the max lift u can run on the vortec heads, i was thinking about getting some from summit but my cam has 480 lift and 230 duration at .50 would it work?? also if not around how much would a machine shop charge to grind the seats down for me?? thanks so much guys.
Old 07-19-2003, 04:28 PM
  #2  
Member
 
Killogy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Sharon, CT
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 Firebird Formula
Engine: 355
Transmission: T5
I'm pretty sure that they can take .460 lift stock. Scoggin Dickey sells upgraded vortecs for more lift for not much more money. Thats where I got mine.
Old 07-19-2003, 08:22 PM
  #3  
Member
 
83crossfireZ28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ive heard 430 or so max for the stock ones off a truck, and the new summit catalog says .475 now, but said .450 or something last month... the scoggin dickey catalog says about the same (.450, but i dont remember right and dont want to get it out...)

BUT the new GM performance parts catalog says the gm vortec performance heads, part numer ending in 060 i think, can take .475 stock... so either way, .480 wont work unless you get the upgraded heads from scoggin dickey or gmpp makes an upgraded valvespring version too...

if you have already bought some vortec heads, you can buy a tool that will machine the 3 things you need machined at the same time for the bigger diameter valvesprings from crane cams i think... (i believe comp also makes a tool that will do some of the machine work)

or you could take them to a machine shop and pay a little more $$$

good choice on vortecs tho, theyre good heads, and for 500$ theyre a bargain cause the flow numbers are better than some aftermarket heads that cost 400$ more.... i just put a set on the 400 im puttin in my 83... (goodbye 305 )
Old 07-19-2003, 09:11 PM
  #4  
Supporter/Moderator

iTrader: (7)
 
ShiftyCapone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 13,205
Likes: 0
Received 375 Likes on 288 Posts
Car: '90 RS
Engine: 377 LSX
Transmission: Magnum T56
.480 is the absolute max lift on those heads. Most buildups don't take them past .475 without machining them to take .520 or higher.
Old 07-19-2003, 11:08 PM
  #5  
Supreme Member

 
88Camaro350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: B'ville, WV
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 2002 Formula Firebird
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Pace Parts says .480 max lift with these heads. I wouldnt chance it tho. Look into maybe a .460 lift max just to be safe.
Old 07-19-2003, 11:45 PM
  #6  
Member
 
Aron213's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Florida
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Iroc
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
right around ..470-480 lift the bottom of the retainer starts to hit the top of the valve stem seal.
Old 07-20-2003, 12:10 AM
  #7  
Supreme Member

 
AJ_92RS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 4,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: yy wife, crazy.
Engine: 350, Vortecs, 650DP
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: 8.5", 3.42
You need this, and this.

And the spring kit you want is here, #VSA 3

I know it says "No machining required", but that's not for Vortec heads.

Last edited by AJ_92RS; 07-20-2003 at 12:13 AM.
Old 07-20-2003, 07:00 AM
  #8  
ede
TGO Supporter

 
ede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Jackson County
Posts: 14,811
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
factory springs won't work, or last at that lift, pull out studs will fail, valve guide clearance becomes and issue around .45. you need to check clearances, not just thrown a cam in the short block, or heads on a short block without checking that everything is instaleld correctly. shop here charges around 150 dollars to grind seats. i use to get it done before i started doing my own for 40 dollars if to took everything apart. spring seats cost me 2 dollars each to get enlarged. i mill my and install my own screw in studs so no idea on cost. valve guides would be cheap and easy to mill, but i do my own so no idea on cost.
Old 07-20-2003, 02:19 PM
  #9  
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
 
89formula#1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Cinnaminson, NJ
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 Formula
Engine: Carbed 5.7
Transmission: TKO-600
well if i buy them i will just get the ones already done. anyways with the head si have in my sig do u think by putting on the vortecs i will kill the liuttle bit of gas milage that i get? I wasn;t sure on this cause they are still 1.94 heads. but i am guessing cause they flow so much better then will hurt it a bit. thanks for any input
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
84z96L31vortec
Tech / General Engine
7
08-20-2017 12:16 AM
NWAsonoma
TBI
4
08-18-2015 05:45 PM
happyhapka
TPI
3
08-15-2015 04:42 PM
L98GTA87
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Wanted
1
08-11-2015 06:55 PM
84z96L31vortec
North East Region
1
08-10-2015 08:27 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: max lift on stock vortec heads??



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:36 PM.