I want to put Vortec heads on my L03. The Vortecs are pretty good heads, from what I hear, but you need the TBI/Vortec manifold. What other heads are good, but reasonably inexpensive?
And if I change heads, do I need to reprogram the EPROM or anything like that?
Thanks in advance.

 

im in the process of puttin a vortec head engine in my car with vortec heads, the 300$ manifold price alone makes the heads not worth it.

 

Here's a pic with a Performer with a .375" thick adapter.

Works well

 

I did what he did. Got a cheap manifold from edel and put my tbi on it. Youll need to tweak the throttle bracket to make it work but other then that its the same as any swap using a carb intake.

 

How much is involved in modifying the intake to make the TBI fit? What kind of intake would be a good one to get for it?

I am thinking about getting a 350 short block and putting the TBI and Vortec heads on that. Is that a good idea?

 

Youll need to get a BFH and hammer the base of one of the mounts of the throttle bracket to a 90 degree angle and redrill it so itll remount to a stud. Youll also have to get different intake bolts, a stud, and a spacer to mount the throttle bracket up. Like other manifolds, youll need an adaptor plate. Dont use the holley one. It mounts the tbi forward to where it would be if it where a carb. IIRC, I didnt really see much room to mount the remote coil so I mounted it to the side of the throttle bracket instead. You also have to relocate your brake booster line to the manifold runner or the adaptor plate and relocate the pcv to the throttle body. The heater outlet is also in a different location so youll need to run some hosing out to it. With some of the manifolds (not the performer) youll have to lengthen and reconnect the connector to the CTS as necessary as it may mount farther away then stock.

All in all, you basically have to make a run out to pep-boys/autozone/whatever and a hardware store for lots of rubber hose, a few pipe fittings, and some nuts and bolts.

 

That seems to be a bit of a headache. I may go that route, but I also found this manifold. Do you think that it is worth the money? They also have the twin 50 mm throttlebody. It is rated at 750 cfm. I think that that should be enough for my 305 or 350.

 

They said that it was a:

New aluminum Vortec/TBI intake w/ 2”/50mm bores – tested on motors up to 450HP


For once I would like to "see" that "test"

OK rant over; for what you need it would work. You just won't need that much airflow for what you have stated. IE: a mild 350

 

i bought both of these from that guy, very good porducts. bit pricey, but hey **** happens.

 

DM91RS:
Yeah, I thought that intake was too much flow for my engine, but I figured if I ever built one bigger that I would already have all the intake I would need.

Borsty:
Yeah, that stuff is high, but if it is good quality, it migh be worth it.
How easy were they to mount? Did they need any modifications?

 

the stuff is real good, im pleased with it.


the TBI is just bolt on basically, the intake u need to modify for some hoses and vac lines. nothing to bad thou.

 

Yeah, I thought the stuff looked good.
With the larger intake and throttle body and the Vortec heads, did you need to modify the computer? I hope not.

 

brian @ TBIchips.com can burn u a custom chip, hes an awesome guy too, helped me to almost no end, send him an email with your engine combo, mods, etc and hell tell u where to go from there.

 

I sent him an email. If he can do the chip burning, then I may get an LT-1 or 4 cam for the engine. I like the short lift long duration idle and sound, not to mention the performance. Thank you all for all your help. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

That vortec manifold with 2" bores that is sold on ebay is actualy a vortec marine intake it is made by edelbrock for crusader boats. Its the same intake I am running on my vortec 305 it is a good intake. The guy I bought mine from was selling them for 140$ brand new, so 300$ is a big rip off from that TBI EBAY guy.

 

He just gets you started but his tunes are no where near what you could do on your own. Mail order tunes are a band aid and should only be used if you need your car to run half way decent while you learn to burn your own.

 

It should be noted that Brian will accept a datalog if you can get it to him to use in the chip burn.

I know where Shifty and the others are coming from but Brian really is a great southern gentleman.

 

DM91RS: is that your CTS in your coolant neck? If so, do you have a PN on that or did you just make it yourself?

Thanks

 

Yes it is a painless wiring thermostatic switch that I installed around 1997 or so. It controls the radiator fan.

The best that I can remember the neck came off my daughter's 84 Trans Am 305. No part number but I believe it's a common part on quite a few stock applications. I just checked my wife's 84 Camaro and it's the same one.

HTH

DM

 

In that manifold where are the 2 center bolt holes on either side? Is that somethign vortec heads don't have or what? Just looked a little funny.

 

Vortec's only have 2 bolts on each corner.