has anyone worked with both 170 e-tecs and vortecs?
can you confirm that the port designs are exactly the same?
thanks

 

e-tecs don't have identical ports to production Vortec heads. Are they very similar and intended to bolt up to the same manifolds, yes. Are they identical, no.

 

so would they have the same swirl and torque making characteristics?

 

They would be similar, yes.

The thing with the Vortec heads is that late model castings (let's just say a lot of 80s ones and newer) are prone to cracking.

Also, if you're going to put work into them like thread-in studs, valvespring seat modifications, or anything else, they start costing more and more, even though they're inexpensive to begin with.

Sometimes the new parts are the better bargain. Depends on what you're going to be doing though.