So I talked to a local engine shop about building a 350 to put in my car. We ended up deciding the best way to go would be some Vortec Heads. Is there any particular Casting # I should be requesting? I will be running a ZZ4 cam etc... with Standard TPI.

The shop also said something about being able to drill the Vortec Heads so the standard Intake would bolt up. Is this possible? Is it reccomended?

 

This should be a sticky...

"Vortec" is a special GM trade name that translates into English as "the intake ports are in a different place". Specifically, they raised them about ¼", up toward the valve cover flange. Many old-style intakes won't even cover the ports in the heads, let alone match up and work right. I believe the TPI base is one of those that is thin across the top of the ports and so leaves some of the head ports exposed to the outside world, but I'm not sure. In other words, yeah you can have them drill the bolt holes; but that's not the REAL issue.

The only solution is the SDPC Vortec base. There is NO OTHER part that has the ports in the right place to match the heads. If you don't buy that intake base, don't bother buying the heads either.

Casting numbers for Vortec heads are 906 and 062. There are no others. None that are "almost as good", "early Vortecs", or any of the rest of that used-car-salesman crap. If it's not 062 or 906, it's not Vortec.

 

On the stickiest forum on the Board, no less. No, I don't want to do that. However, it is covered on the FAQ forum:
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=286861
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...ghlight=vortec

Amen.

Unless you put aftermarket and Fastburns into the mix.

 

Thank you sir.

 

Thanks guys. I appreciate the info.

 

What kind of performance boost are we talking with Vortecs and the SDPC Base versus Ported 083 Heads and Stock TPI system? 50hp? More? Less?

I'm not building a drag car. I just want a good running setup.

250-275 HP is more than enough for me.

 

No more. The TPI restricts the engine so much that the benefits of the Vortecs are negated.

When SD was going through the development for the Vortec base, they were doing it to accomodate people wanting to put their TPI system on the 330 HO crate engine. What they soon discovered is the TPI cut power drastically. So much so that they had to go to the Hot Cam to equal the 330 HP a carb makes on that crate, which also required using upgraded Vortec heads & valve springs.

Summary, TPI on the HO didn't really work. Putting Vortec heads on a 350 TPI with the expectation of big power gains ain't gonna work, either.

Now, if you're willing to go mongo with TPI mods, then the Vortecs would be able to support more power in the end. But, $'s/HP is going to be much, much higher with Vortec TPI than it is with ported 083's & TPI.

 

Ported 083's with appropriate spring/rocker stud upgrades, cam upgrade, ported base & plenum, aftermarket runners.

 

Thanks, I think that answers my questions then.