I'm upgrading to a 350 tpi and Im going to be throwing in a cam kit and a set of fast burn vortec heads.I know I will need to upgrade the springs on the vortec cylinder heads. but my question is that do i need to do anything to the heads for the spring upgrade?

and i already know about the intake.

this is the kit i was thinkin of:
/http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-K12-256-4/

 

Do you mean Fast Burn heads?

The lift on the XE256 isn't enough to typically need anything more than new springs on production Vortec heads. Check individual valve travel first, though, using the retainers in the kit.

 

right, but would I have to do any thing to the heads to install these new springs. the lift on stock vortecs are around .42 so i do know I will need to get more lift out of these. I have heard a couple of different things.

 

Reports on valve travel vary, some as little as 0.440" (with a 0.060" margin). Most, however, can handle 0.480", so you just need to check your heads after you get the cam kit and their retainers.

The other issue is the guide OD, sometimes too large for aftermarket upgrade springs to go over. Depending upon what valve seals you use, you shouldn't have any problem with these.

The typical "fix" is to use a guide/spring seat cutter to reduce the OD and height of the guide and increasing the spring seat ID. The springs in that kit are 1.25", which is fine for the stock seat. But, cutting the top of the guide gives more valve travel capability, and allows you to use Teflon valve stem seals (an improvement over the stock o-ring or umbrella seals). So, it wouldn't be a bad idea to cut the tops of the guides (most any capable machine shop should be able to do this for you if you don't want to or don't want to buy the tool) for more valve travel and improved oil control. This would take you to about 0.550" lift capability (so you could get a better cam ).

 

By the way, these are "Fast Burn" heads http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12464298/ .

They happen to use a Vortec intake manifold.