if i went ahead and got the vortec heads, would my 1979 block need any machining? what would be required to complete this swap? heads, cam, push rods, lifters, and intake would be everything id needright?

 

Not if the surfaces of the heads and the deck of the block are in good shape.

Quote:

what would be required to complete this swap? heads, cam, push rods, lifters, and intake would be everything id needright?

A timing set, rocker arms (self aligning), valve covers and valve cover gaskets.

Intake, exhaust and head gaskets. The intake gaskets are Vortec specific as well as the intake manifold bolts.

Then the obvious like t-stat gasket, carb gasket, pipe plugs for the holes you don't use on the intake, teflon sealer for the plugs and head bolts, moly lube for breaking in the cam, etc etc.

And that's if you don't need to change valve springs for the cam you're using, or have the heads machined to accept the springs or the lift of the cam you're using.

 

in the long long will this swap be worth it? what will i gain? it s it a good $/HP ratio? should i just go with something else?

 

Depends on two things:

-how bad the current heads on your motor suck

-how much it will cost you for the swap

You will gain an easy 30-40 hp over stock heads.

You would not need to change cam, lifters, and pushrods, but would need centerbolt valve covers. If your cam is over .460 lift, you will need to machine the guides down and get new seals, along with springs to match your cam. If you start pricing it out, it may be cheaper to get a set of aftermarket heads that come with a better spring that will make about the same power without changing you current intake (assuming it's decent).

 

well i assume my cam sucks and i also assume my intake manifold was a waste of money, i have the edelbrock performer cam (.420 intake lift) and holley street dominator dual plane intake manifold. so id need a edelbrock performer RPM Air Gap to go with the better heads, since that is the best dual plane correct?

 

An RPM air gap would be a wise choice, along with a better cam. I would make a list and price out both a vortec combo and a stock style head. I think summit and scoggin-dickey sell modified vortecs with better springs that have already been clearanced for higher lift.