I just got a really good deal on a new set of Vortec heads that have been machined for the old style intake. I got them from my neighbor and I also know the machine shop that he had the work done at. They are well known around here for killer port/polishing jobs.

I thought this was great since I have a brand new Edelbrock intake laying around that I could put on when I swap the heads. Then I read somewhere that using the old intake on Vortec heads is not a good idea because the ports don't line up.

Anybody know what the deal is?

 

Vortec heads require a Vortec intake manifold. Edelbrock makes them. I dont know the part number off the top of my head. They make a RPM version and an Air Gap version I believe..

 

The deal is, the ports don't line up.

If all you want is to be able to lay claim to the buzzword, then yes, you can dill holes and they'll bolt up. If however you want your car to go faster with them than it will with something else, you need the right intake. Some intakes won't even cover the ports in those heads, they're moved so far.

 

You need to use a Vortec intake with those heads. I have been there and tried that. I am using the GMPP Fastburn aluminum heads and a Edelbrock Victor race intake #2913. It is a single plane tall (read hole in hood) intake. There are other vortec intakes available from GMPP and Edelbrock.

 

Based upon your signature it doesn't look like you have TPI, but this is still cool anyway. I was reading the October 2002 issue of Chevy High Performance magazine and came across a 350 TPI engine with Vortec heads from Scoggin-Dickey. I looked on their website and they have this intake manifold available... it bolts right up to GM Vortec heads and still allows the use of a TPI system.

http://www.sdpc2000.com/htm/vortec_tpi.html

 

Wow that bites. Why in the hell would a machine shop offer something like that if the ports don't line up?

Looks like I have to find some big set screws to plug all the holes with

The two holes at the far end of the heads go into the water passages. Should I thread-lock or JB weld the set screws in?

The OEM bolt holes at each end of the head have a plug in them. I don't know if they were like this from the factory or if they did this when they drilled them for the old intake. Anyone know?

 

I bought the the Vortec heads predrilled for the '86 style intake then realized I was a dumbass for paying extra for that BS that doesn't work and ended up just buying the Edelbrock Performer RPM intake for those heads. They had the holes with plugs in them. I took those out and bought some other plugs to fill the holes for the pre '86 holes and I use locktite on every plug so I wouldn't have any leaks. I ran a 13.76 with those heads and the car was in sh!tty tune. Car runs way better now and I can probaly get into the lower 13's.

Brad...

 

The reason they do it, is because there are people who get sucked in by the buzzword, don't know what they're doing, and are willing to waste their money. Hopefully people who learn the real truth from this site are smarter than that.

Ignore the extra bolt holes and get a Vortec-specific intake if you really want to use those heads.