I have a late 90s 350 out of a truck with vortec heads and I'm planning to run a tpi. Should I keep the vortec heads and get the vortec/tpi base or spend that money to get a different set of heads worked over? Does anyone have any flow bench numbers on any heads; stock, aftermarket, ported, larger valves, etc? This will be a daily driver and a 5-speed. I don't want to spend a fortune, but I want the best bang for the buck.
Thanks,
Will

 

the best bang for the buck is to use what yah got. Most people prefer vortecs over 305 heads since they flow better out of the box. If it were me I'd port the Vortecs myself, find a intake that suits my needs (probably carb'd, or miniram), a comp XE cam, and go puttin' around town ;-)

I actually went out and bought a die grinder just today, and the standard abrasives kit. I just need to make the electric speed control box in order to finish it... the grinder is from sears, got it for 89.99, then bought a 2 1/2 year warrantee for 15 dollars more. The SA kit is about 50 shipped (from eBay). The speed control box will be about 30. That's 185 dollars, and I can use all of them on many many heads to come. They'll pay themselves off atleast 4 times over on the first pair of heads that I use... now if that isnt cheap horsepower then I dont know what is!

You can look up Sitting Bull's post on head porting. It's a great resource!

So my final verdict? I say use your Vortecs, port 'em yourself. And find a intake that tickles your fancy.

 

I plan to use a TPI, the base for vortec heads costs around $400.00 thats why I'm thinking about getting different heads. I really don't think I want 305 heads, I already have some on a 350 and thay suck even with some minor porting. I work at a shop and have a small shop at home and have a couple of air die grinders and the bits. What I am really interested in are unported head flow numbers, stock and aftermarket, so I can make a decision. If they flow well unported then they'll really flow well if ported properly.
Thanks for the input,
Will

 

Anyone?

 

I plan on building this soon, does anyone have any info!?

 

Go aftermarket if you want some good flow out of the box numbers. Matching your TPI to vortec heads... well, you already know that song.

Find some trickflows or something else that's not toooooo expensive.