I have a vortech 350 sitting in the shop. Are vortech heads worth investing any money into? I was thinking of buying a eagle rotating assembly ,they're pretty cheap, and just doing some porting a polishing to the vortech heads. Then get a cam and a mini ram and call it a day. Is it worth it to do this set up? What power potential could I see? I know it depends on cam choice alot. And How much would this set up run? I've been searching to see how good these vortech heads are but I couldn't find to much info on them.

I'm trying to hit 400whp, and spend like 2500, I dont know if thats possible. If I ask some nub questions its cuz I'm new to building engines and am clueless to it, I've been doing alot of searches on the board looking at other peoples builds trying to learn a bit so I'd appreciate any help I could get. Thanks guys!

 

Vortecs would support 400 GFWHP easily. 400 RWHP with Miniram would be a little more challenging (anything with a Miniram emissions-legal would be a challenge reaching 400 RWHP).

If you're interested in a set that is ready for 1.60" exhaust valves, just need to be finished up, let me know.

 

The problem is the compression ratios. You'll need some dished pistons to make it all work out with a .040 quench area. I think I figured out it'd need to be 15-20 cc's of dish (negative cc I guess) to keep it aroudn 9.5-10.0:1.

THe heads themselves are good. They can make the power. But you be better off getting some other aftermarket head depending on the money involved. Depends on what you get your heads for and how much your machinework costs. I got screw in studs and guideplates and 1.60 exh valves put in and they were around $700 when all was said and done, And I didnt get mine set up for higher lift cams either and I wish I had, but I was penny-pinching to get my motor together.

I was able to find my GMPP Vortec carb intake here on TGO for fairly cheap, but vortec intakes are a little hard to come by used, so you'll likely have to buy new for that, and to me buying used is the only way I can afford anything I have... hahaha.

 

I dont care about emissions, what intake would you go with? I havent bought anything yet I'm just researching right now.

I have a vortech motor out of a 97 suburban, thats about it tho I am doing some research to find out what parts I need

 

The 383 would be my direction once the 350 gives up the ghost. (60 000 miles and going still).
I'll take my current Vortec combination and build it with a stroker crank. I don't think it's a stretch to say 400 chp would be far off given the current power output.
There are more than a few Vortec 383s. It seems that you may be limited in engine speed because the heads are limited compared to the popular AFR 195s. However 6000 rpm is plenty tight for me.

 

The Vortec heads/Miniram would be a nice combo. I'm just not sure you'll get to 400 RWHP with it. As said, aftermarket heads would make it easier to obtain.

 

I really want some heads but there just too expensive for my budget + I arleady have some a vortech 350, well I know your not a dyno and every car is different but what do you guess I'll have? I'd like 400whp but I want at least 350+whp

 

No disrespect intended here, but have you driven a car like a 3rd gen with 400 RWHP? Or are you shooting for a certain ET at the track?

Vortec (no "h") heads need help on the exhaust side to achieve those kind of numbers. 1.60" exhaust valves and careful port work are in order. That's why people jump immediately to aftermarket heads when you start talking those numbers. A good EFI cam like the Comp XFI series would be helpful (roller lifter, of course) - well, make that "necessary".

I know the Miniram is capable of the task. There is a racer out here who has an '89 Vette with 412 SBC and Miniram, it ran low-11's at our mile-high altitude. He wanted more, so he's running a 434 with single carb now, but he actually won more with the smaller engine and EFI (well, until the stock-block 412 puked a cylinder wall).

 

Well I've driven a 600whp mustang, and I had a bolt on ls1 4th gen for about 3 years. Well I'm gonna do some porting to the heads but if I dont hit 400whp its okay, I'd just rather set it hi but realistically if I hit like 375whp I'll be good. I also want a drivable car too so I'm not gonna put an insane cam on this car but it wont be small either.