ok.. need true advice before rebuild..
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 400
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
ok.. need true advice before rebuild..
wow.. I can't believe I actually found time to get on here.. just moved into my new house about 3 weeks ago and between work and house I've been pretty busy.. right now I'm just trying to get the garage all setup so I can push the truck in to pull the engine. in case some of you don't remember the bottom end started knocking(spun bearing or something) since I noticed it and had a few people diagnose it I haven't started it. been about 2 months now.. I just towed it to the new house.. so what I need to know is do I rebuild her with some vortec heads using the new gm performance tbi to vortec heads intake manifold?? also from what I heard the exhaust on the heads is the same so my stock exhaust manifolds should fit or if I can afford the edelbrock headers with the air hookup(since mine has that crap and I want to keep it 100% emission legal) they should bolt right up?
thanks guys... I want as much power as I can out of this beast .. I only want to rebuild once.. and don't want to waste money doing it either..
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'88 C1500 350 TBI
Belltech 2/4 Drop,
Nitro Drop Shocks,
3.73 Rear gear ratio,
Edelbrock performer TBI intake, performer cam, timing chain,
Hiflow cat with Rhino dual 2 1/2" out the rear. American Racing Neptune 16x8 wheels with Kumho 712's, 255-50 series
thanks guys... I want as much power as I can out of this beast .. I only want to rebuild once.. and don't want to waste money doing it either..
------------------
'88 C1500 350 TBI
Belltech 2/4 Drop,
Nitro Drop Shocks,
3.73 Rear gear ratio,
Edelbrock performer TBI intake, performer cam, timing chain,
Hiflow cat with Rhino dual 2 1/2" out the rear. American Racing Neptune 16x8 wheels with Kumho 712's, 255-50 series
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 19,657
Likes: 310
Jeff,
You've just moved in. You apparently have other transportation, or you wouldn't be contemplating a build over a replacement. This sounds like a nice winter project unless you are really in a hurry or "phat" with cash, in which case a crate engine would be a good start. Since you are really wanting to build, take some time and do your homework (as you apparently are now).
If you want a high torque engine for your truck, you might want to consider looking for heads and intake with very high port velocities, not necessarily high flows. If you have the taller rear end, and really want high RPM horespower and can live with a little less stump-pulling torque at the lower RPM end, go for the highest flow heads you can get, then manage that flow with the right cam.
The only thing that makes Vortec heads "special" is the port design. If you have the time, a $40.00 die grinder, some card stock for templates, and a set of basic measurement tools, you can make a fairly standard set of heads perform better than a boxed set of Vortecs. Of course, you'll still have to machine for springs, studs, bowls, larger valves, push rod guide holes, etc. You'd have to do some of that with the Vortecs, too.
If you don't want to do that, but want a lot of flow for a little cash, check out the Pro Action Iron Lighting heads. They'll WAAAY outflow Vortecs, and just about anything else you can get, iron or aluminum, short of CNC ported specials. They flow as well as CNC ported Victor 23° or Brodix Track 1 ported heads, even in their rough cast state. When properly ported, there isn't much that will outflow them, even many BBC heads!
They also cost only $250.00 (US) each, bare cast. That is about the same price as "complete" Vortec heads, and the Vortecs will require machining as soon as you take them out of the carton if you want to use any reapectable cam or valves.
The money you will spend on the special intake (coupled with the fact that you have limited choices for intakes) will make the extra cost of the heads worthwhile. You should be able to use your existing Performer with the Iron Lightning heads, and spend the cash on good valves and springs.
Just a thought.
------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
If you want to beat the World, it might reach up and pull you down...
Adobe Acrobat Reader
You've just moved in. You apparently have other transportation, or you wouldn't be contemplating a build over a replacement. This sounds like a nice winter project unless you are really in a hurry or "phat" with cash, in which case a crate engine would be a good start. Since you are really wanting to build, take some time and do your homework (as you apparently are now).
If you want a high torque engine for your truck, you might want to consider looking for heads and intake with very high port velocities, not necessarily high flows. If you have the taller rear end, and really want high RPM horespower and can live with a little less stump-pulling torque at the lower RPM end, go for the highest flow heads you can get, then manage that flow with the right cam.
The only thing that makes Vortec heads "special" is the port design. If you have the time, a $40.00 die grinder, some card stock for templates, and a set of basic measurement tools, you can make a fairly standard set of heads perform better than a boxed set of Vortecs. Of course, you'll still have to machine for springs, studs, bowls, larger valves, push rod guide holes, etc. You'd have to do some of that with the Vortecs, too.
If you don't want to do that, but want a lot of flow for a little cash, check out the Pro Action Iron Lighting heads. They'll WAAAY outflow Vortecs, and just about anything else you can get, iron or aluminum, short of CNC ported specials. They flow as well as CNC ported Victor 23° or Brodix Track 1 ported heads, even in their rough cast state. When properly ported, there isn't much that will outflow them, even many BBC heads!
They also cost only $250.00 (US) each, bare cast. That is about the same price as "complete" Vortec heads, and the Vortecs will require machining as soon as you take them out of the carton if you want to use any reapectable cam or valves.
The money you will spend on the special intake (coupled with the fact that you have limited choices for intakes) will make the extra cost of the heads worthwhile. You should be able to use your existing Performer with the Iron Lightning heads, and spend the cash on good valves and springs.
Just a thought.
------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
If you want to beat the World, it might reach up and pull you down...
Adobe Acrobat Reader
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