I am about to buy a set for my '69 camaro and have a few questions. First when you put them one what heads did you have on to begin with? The fast burns have a 210 cc intake port which I think is a little big for a 350. Did you notice any loss of low end torque with these large ports? Were you happy with the quaility of them? and last how big a differance do you think it made in how your car ran.

 

No one has these heads on there car??? Any info would be helpful good or bad.

 

I am in the process of putting the aluminum fastburns on my 406. They look like really nice heads but be aware that you need to use a vortec intake on them. Also for the intake gasket get the GM one made for those heads. I am using the self aligning Crane Gold rockers that they recommend for those heads again.

 

Also, GM is revising these heads as we speak, so why not wait a month and read the reviews? I know that one of the regular mags--Car Craft, Chevy High Performance or one of those--is doing a review of them in the upcoming issue.

 

I've heard that the Fastburns use the pre-86 and Vortec intake styles; they're drilled for both.

 

It is true they are drilled for the older style intakes and the vortec intakes. I put them on my 406 small block, then when my Stealth Ram showed up went to put it on. When you set the stealth ram into place it won't even come close to covering the intake ports. I mean the outermost edge of the stealth doesn't cover the ports let alone the ports on the intake side. I must say I was disapointed to say the least. Now I am going 180 degrees to a Edelbrock Victor Vortec intake and carb. You also need to use GM gasket number 12529094 for those heads and a vortech intake. Luckily I was able to sell the Stealth ram at a bit of a loss.

 

have you looked into world's sportsman II heads? they have 200cc ports with the heart shaped "fast burn" chambers except they use regular small block intakes. you can get the iron ones for $800 a set complete and a lil more for the alluminum ones. go to www.worldcastings.com and read up on em. they also accept both perimeter and center bolt valve covers. i'm sold on em. those are the first things i'm puttin on this winter.

 

The engine in my camaro now in a '96 vortec truck motor. It has the vortec heads and I put a GMPP vortec intake on it. The vortec and fastburn heads both have raised intake ports so you really need the vortec intake to make the ports match. Another head I am now really considering in the Edelbrock E-Tec 200. They out flows the fast burn on the intake and exhaust sides and the intake port is 200cc. The fast burn intake port is 210cc and I am concerned that it is too big and will hurt low end torque.

 

Y not just port your Vortecs and install 2.02's and 1.60's
you'll exceed "out of the box" fastburns and near match the flow of ported fastburns with much smaller ports.
Cast iron makes more power too.
If you're using a small camshaft you may be dissapointed.

 

Well everything I have read about putting bigger valves in vortec heads has been that it does very little to improve the flow and it was thought to be a waste of money.

I looked at the world heads but I do not have a regular intake, I have a vortec GMPP intake. This intake is the same as the Edelbrock RPM vortec intake. I know this because when I ordered it for Jim Pace it came in a GM box but had Edelbrock instructions and Edelbrock intake sticker. And I have seen the RPM at Summit and it looks the same as mine.

I think I'm leaning toward the Edelbrock E-Tec 200 heads. Better flow and horsepower numbers then the fast burns and costs less.

 

I wish I had mine running. I am still waiting for a couple of parts. The Fastburns look like a pretty nice head. I got the Edelbrock Super Victor for Vortecs pn 2913, the ports on the intake are way smaller than the intake ports on the head. I don't think there is enough meat there to match them up. Anyway I want to get it running this weekend so If I am not real happy I will pull the intake this winter and port match it as close as I can.

 

Don't believe everthing you read. If you "PORT" them and install bigger valves you will get more flow. A lot more ! While maintaining reasonable port volume. [For a 350] If you JUST install bigger valves, yes you won't gain a lot. The exhaust port really responds to simple cleanup and polish. Can't go wrong here.

If you are using a relatively small camshaft you're better off
with the smaller port volume of the vortecs and E-TEC 170's
The larger ports of the E-tec 200's will make less torque and
less hp on a mild motor. Same for the Fastburns.

I'd Email Edelbrock Tech before I purchased heads.
They will help you with this.
The production Lt-4 cam is a "small cam"

Check out some of the Performance GM parts dealers
on the Net. They are getting more power and torque out of "tweeked Vortecs" on their clone ZZ430 350 Crate motors (the Hot Cam motors). Then with the fastburns. Also the fastburns have a big exhaust port and may not match your small street header's pipe size. Should have a 1.75" header.

 

In the September 2002 Super Chevy, on page 104, there is a good article on porting the Vortecs. What works and what doesn't.

Check it out.

 

Is it in the stores now? I'm on my way....

 

Actually, they already have the October issue out and it's only August 9!

Hey, I'll have a set of 3.42 gears in my Sport Coupe tomorrow

Also, my heads will be ready in the afternoon and I am also picking up the Crane PowerMax 260 cam tomorrow. Hopefully we can get it all in on Sunday. Then it'll be somewhere in the 14s for sure, eh?

What do you think of the KYB Gas-Adjust shocks? Are they the best buy for the money?

 

Sounds good.... Don't know anything about shocks...

 

These heads are for my '69 camaro. My IROC has the motor with the Production LT4 cam. The cam in my '69 is a comp cam HR270 with .495 intake/.502 exhaust w/ 1.5 rockers. 218/223 duration and a 112 centerline. This cam is simular to the Lt4 hot cam. So the E-tec 200 heads I think would work better.

I am not really interrested in keeping the Vortec heads on my engine any more so porting them is not an option I want to take. I've got the money for better heads so I going to spend it. To me, my 69' gets the best parts I can afford to put on it. I have had this car 14 years and am always making it better.

 

In that case I would look into a st of Brodix Track 1's
or a set of AFR 195cc heads.