how much better are vortec heads than 041s? i have a 283 with 041s, a .422 .444 lift 204 214 duration cam, 600cfm carb, short tube headers, performer intake and about 9.5:1 compression. how much power would vortecs be worth over the 041s?

 

Assuming both are stock with the same size valves, The vortecs flow 228cfm out of the box and 041's are right about 214 cfm.

Both heads will work nicely on a 283 but the vortecs will make more power. I'd say about 20/25 more horses on your motor.

Even more on a bigger motor.

Your 041's are good heads and respond well to moderate porting and a competition valve job and bowl hog. But bigger is not better on a 283. So avoid the temptation to hog 'em out.

 

how close are the 041s to LT1 heads? i was thinking if i found a roller 350 i would build that with something like an LT4 hot cam and about 10:1 compression.

 

Apples and oranges, Viper. The LT-1 heads are reverse flow and won't work with the standard 350 motor, at least not without serious work. The Vortec design is directly derived from the LT-1 heads and about as close as you can get to a "bolt-on" for your application.

 

i know the LT1 heads wont fit but how close is the performance is what i was trying to say. sorry for the confussion.

 

I've seen this question posted in both Hot Rod Magazine and Chevy Highperformance from LT-1 equipped Impala. They want to know if Vortec heads will fit and what performance they would expect. The answer was the same on both rags. There would be no performance gain going to Vortecs even if they could because they share the same port/chamber design as well as very similiar flow numbers. What you could gather from that is they are close enough to each other that they are a wash. Both designs are (LT-1 and Vortec) are superior to the 041's. Go to www.chevyhiperformance.com , tech articles and then Cylinder Head Flow Database for flow numbers on all three heads.

 

i didn't see #s for the 041s but the LT1s flowed about 215 at .600" and the vortecs flowed 239 at .500 where the LT1s flowed 214 and went down to 229 at .600. the vortecs and LT1s were almost identical untill about .300-.400 where the vortecs flowed better.

they had 462s and they flowed ok but the lower lift flow was less than the LT1. from what that shows since the 041s are better than 462s the 041s should flow better than the LT1 heads at higher lifts but probably not lower lifts.

 

Sorry Viper. I saw 041 but thought 441. I am not real familiar with them.