I have heard conflicting stories as to weather one should pocket port them or not. Anyone have any experience with stock vortec heads and then pocket ported ones? Iv'e got a set to go on a 350 I'm building and would like to pocket port them before I put the engine together.

Steve

 

I'm running vortec heads right out of the box 0 mods. They run pretty good right now estimated seat of my a$$ HP around 300-350. Chevy High Performance put together a SBC with the Pocket ported Vortecs and got 409 HP at 6500 RPM with Edelbrock Performer RPM, 240 @.050 cam, and flat top pistons(August '01 testing engine combos). It's a little more cam than I'm running. I've heard that pocket porting does help. You'll have to measure HP to $$$$'s trade off.

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'89 Red Formula 350- 350 .060 over forged pistons 232* @ .020 cam Performer RPM Holley 750 DP Vortec 1.94 1.50 Accel Coil and dist. Hedman shorty headers Dual Exhaust w/ cutouts 1LE WS6 suspension, wheels, and brakes, 9 Bolt 3.27 Posi Edelbrock LCA's & Track bar subframe connectors 700R4 Harwood snorkel scoop Eclipse Head Unit Delco Bose Speakers 2 12" Pioneer subs w/ 400 watt/chanel amp

 

I personaly thought pocket porting these heads would be worth 10 to 15hp. From the looks of the intake ports just below the valves it has a sharp edge where the factory machined the ports around the seat area. Smoothing this area could only help unless you need that edge to get the fuel to remix with the incomming air. I guess I'll see soon enough as I will be pp the heads before I put them on.

Steve

 

I pocket ported my vortecs and I'm satisfied with the results. Although I did it before I put them on so I can't say how much it helped. I also had a 5 angle valve job and the valves back cut 30 degrees. I did the same things that the Goodwrench 350 articles did.

I say go for it.

 

I did and they look great, shiny as hell, but since the damn Vortec TPI base is not out they are now in a box for sale. I have had excellent results with these on a truck, where these will probably go if they don't sell, but the walls are supposedly very thin. Don't remove too much material. Otherwise a damn good cast iron head, for a factory part.