i was wondering if i were to buy vortec heads ($455), would i have to change anything else besides the intake manifold? Can i just bolt them on and go?

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1982 Camaro Sport Coupe
350 cid

 

Give us a little more info about your ride and that will help. They are fine for a mild street appl;ication, but if you plan on makeing real power things will have to be changed. You need screw in studs and better springs.

 

well, its a bone stock 350 carburated. I just want some heads that are a little better than stock. Im just using the motor for just a weekend driver in my camaro. I wont be racing the engine, i might take it to the track every now and then, but im not so concerned with competing hardcore. I just want an engine that is peppy and sounds good. i dont care if i can rip up the 1/4 in 12sec or nothing. I'd like to see 13's though. Im not so sure that i could achieve that with the stock heads and cam. Im just checking out all of my options and the vortec heads are cheap, and alot of others are using them.

 

I would definitely change the cam to something a little more "healthy", bolt-on the vortec heads, just make sure the lift on the cam is slightly under what the heads can handle, and use an Edelbrock performance quadrajet carb (edelbrock makes a way better q-jet than GM)!! With a decent cat-back, Should be good for some 13's!

 

If you will be using a cam of more than .450"
lift, you will need to machine the tops of
the valveguides for extra clearance. The valvesprings will work with a stock cam
but for performance, get some hi perf stock diameter replacement springs (crane, isky, comp, etc). The rocker studs are ok for mild to moderate cams to around .490" lift and street type valvesprings and 5500RPM. You will need to use self aligning type rocker arms '87 up. If you're going to add a new camshaft with those new heads, consider this one. It is a proven performer with vortecs: Crane Blue Racer #WG-1159.
Specs are 214/224*@.050-.442"/.465"-112
Easy street manors and lots of power to 5500
If combined with a mid 3.xx rear gear, 13's
are easy. Good Luck
http://www.blueracer.cranecams.com

[This message has been edited by F-BIRD'88 (edited November 20, 2001).]

 

what would be the average cost to have the valveguides machined? i never really dealt with heads very much and i wouldnt want to get burned by someone who could tell just how "head" illiterate i am.

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1982 Camaro Sport Coupe
350 cid

 

if for some reason you run egr you have to fab it allitle

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90 RS 305 tbi, 4 3/4" cowl Hood, Edelbrock TES headers, Flowmaster exhaust, Crane roller cam, comp roller rockers, vortec heads/intake, ported tbi, w/new injectors, MSD probillet Distributer/ coil, 1 inch tbi spacer, air foil, 14x4 k&n flat base air cleaner, Rebuilt 700r4 w/ B&M shift kit, B&M Megashifter, 3.23 posi, 2 12 RF's with mtx amp, top of line alpine cd player, soon to have 90-91 gfx, z-28 wing, new paintjob, rims, and all new lowered suspension.

 

Most automotive machine shops have a Labour
Rate $/Hr. When you have decided on your combination, go to a machine shop and get the job estimated on paper. You should be able to have your heads dissasembled, guides
machined, cleaned and reassembled with your new stock diameter hi-perf springs in about 1 to 1.5 hrs.
If you are able to disasemble and clean and reasemble them yourself, you can save some money. Note: You can reuse the stock vortec retainers and seals with the new springs once the guides are machined.


[This message has been edited by F-BIRD'88 (edited November 20, 2001).]

 

you can use up to .580lift i have a comp cams xe 268 in a 350 with no problems.i have small block 400 with a 530 lift cam change to crane .050 retainer locks no problem with valve guide

 

You may want to get screw in studs, i just put a set of new vortec heads on my car and as soon as i hit 5200 rpm a exhaust rocker stud pulled out, pressurized that cylinder and blew the head gasket, just a suggestion.

 

87coldair,
MAybe I got lucky then. I had 3 rocker arms break, and all it did was bend the push rod when the cylinder had enough pressure. Honestly, the only place I think the pressure
went to was past the rings. The head gasket is still good, but maybe my ring seal isn't the greatest.



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Joshua Johnston
1991 Z-28
350, T-5, K&N, Ported Vortec heads, Edelbrock RPM, Holley 750 D.P., HEI, 11.07:1 CR, Comp Cams Roller-.510"/.520"-282*/288* dur., Shorty Headers, Dual 2.5 Exhaust, Dynomax Bullet Mufflers, T&R Motorsports custom air intake, Bald tires

 

i saw the car that SDPC put their test engine in run he had MAF it was in a formula and it ran 2 tenths quicker than my best with about the same trap speed. I think there is a problem or he still had the 2.73 gears i am not sure but it does make more torque than my car. I did not get a chance to talk to him. I don't think that anyone would be pissed about mid to low 13's. well i would but that was a MAF car. it would probly run better in a SD car. That was also the first time for that car at the track. and the air was really bad.

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90 IROC l98
last season best corected 13.62 @102
mods
full exhaust, AFPR, pulley, jet stage 1 chip, billet servo, 52mm throttle body, slp runners and some 1.6 RR's and a few other little things.
243 RWHP and 342 RWTQ with hot engine and 90 octain fuel

 

You also need headers. The heads wont work with f-body exhaust manifolds.

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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
317 RWHP, 418 RWTQ
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH (2.10 60')
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Member: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

SDPC told me you could use LT1 manifolds with the vortecs. But way waste work on maifolds, swap in headers while you have the heads off.

 

I swapped in a set of Vortec Iron heads on my 350, performer intake, roller rockers, .100 over pushrods. I believe I've gained 40HP.. Kept the stock cam that came in the 350 tho. Definitely you can feel that kind of difference.

 

It is my understanding that the passenger side stock manifold from a 5.7 F Body will work.They are the 6 bolt design as opposed to the 305's 7 bolt.

 

If you are going to do any kind of head swap, do yourself a favor and do not use stock exhaust manifolds. If you dont have the funds on hand for a decent set, get a set of cheap hookers for a little over $150, or find a used set of shortys if you want to use shorty's. All kinds of people on this board have used headers for sale, just ask some people on here. I'm sure you'll be able to find a set that you can afford from somebody here. Just food for thought!