Hello all,
This is my first post here so I'll try my best to make it worthwhile. I'm curious about the Vortec 5.7's, will the Vortec heads directly bolt on to the older(70's vintage) SBC? From what I understand from reading here so far is that all of the vortec engines were roller cam equipped. So if I were to have an older SBC with a hydraulic flat tappet cam, and the vortec heads are a direct fit, would I need some sort of custom length pushrods for using flat tappets intead of rollers with the vortecs? or would the standard SBC pushrods work? Will all of the accessories/brackets from an older SBC fit the same on the Vortecs? Or if I used the accessories and belt system that came on the Vortec, are they similar enough to use in an early 3rd Gen F body without major modification?
I have an '84 Trans Am that I bought for $300 that I'd really like to get on the road. Aside from the interior needing a bit of work, the body is in excellent condition. Its only missing an engine and transmission. I have read a lot on here about going with a carbureted vortec, and thats what I'd like to do with it. My goals for this car are to get around 300 or so hp, still get respectable mpg, and drive the hell out of it. It seems the vortec setup is a good easy way to go for that from what I have read on here.
Is it HUGELY beneficial to have the Gen I block vs. the older SBC? Pros/Cons? Either way I go, it will be rebuilt.
I'm trying to do as much research on this as I can before I dive in. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Vortec heads bolt straight on to ANY SBC block with no mods.
Pushrods are related to what style cam you are using ( flat vs roller ; not the heads
but stock Vortec heads use self aligning rockers so you need that style.
Vortec heads require a special VORTEC only intake manifold because the intake bolt pattern and port shape are different to reg SBC heads

All are GEN 1 engines.
Preferred path is to use a '87+ roller block as the basis for any NEW build because it give you the benefit of running a roller cam
96 -00 Vortec truck blocks are common choices ( can fit any SBC heads )

 

Thanks vette,
I thought the vortec heads might have a different rocker arm height or some sort of significant change in the valvetrain geometry that might require something other than standard sbc pushrods if using flat tappets since they were used on blocks originally equipped with rollers.

 

Roller lifters are taller than flat tappet lifters so you need a shorter (7.200" ) push rod vs the 7.800" flat tappet push rod

 

The '87-later blocks with roller lifter provision and one piece rear main seal tended to be of higher casting quality than the 70's blocks. For some reason, though, I've heard of several '93-'97 truck engines having crank bearing problems. I haven't heard of problems after being rebuilt, though.

vetteoz pretty well covered the rest.

 

Thanks five 7,
Sorry for the delay in responding, but I'm out of town a lot. I'll be rebuilding the engine, so hopefully the bearings shouldn't be an issue.