I was going to fix the seals on my heads since the car blows smoke at start up and from red lights.The problem is it also as a small tap. I'm not sure if its bad but I don't like any kind of tap.I'm gonna put a new set of heads on the car..the engine is a 305 TPI in a 1987 iroc z.Now the engine company I contacted says they have two style heads that fit my engine..first is casting number #081 non vortech heads..the other is 187 vortech casting.Which would be better,I'm asumming the votech heads BUT are the push rods the same so I can reuse them as the motor isn't being torn apart.

 

You will have to check the length of the push rods once you get the #1 piston tdc with new heads on. That would be the best thing, if your using the same rockers the push rods should work.

 

First of all #187's are NOT vortec heads, they are swirl-port castings and are a big step down from your factory casts. Easy way to remember this is 187 is the callsign for Murder, and they will murder your top end!

#081's are the TPI factory casting. Why don't you just pull your current heads and have them rebuilt? Or is the plan to exchange them?

Make absolutely DEAD sure they don't give you those 187's!

 

will the 187's work with the tpi intake, im not to familiar but I heard vortech are different bolt angle even though you said they are not vortech? I just rebuilt my engine and when i pulled the 081 heads some of the guides were already replced. I sent them out anyway and the heads cost 400 for both to have new springs and valve job and reassembled. They said the guides were ok suprisingly.

 

Vortecs are also a different bolt pattern than previous cylinder head designs.

1986 and earlier heads use the same angle on every intake bolt. 1987 and later heads angled the center four bolts straight down, a manifold from an '86 and earlier vehicle will need to have the center four bolt holes hogged out to use an '87 and later cylinder head. Likewise, an 87 and later manifold will need it's bolt passages similarly modified to accept 1986 and earlier heads.

A simpler change if you run in to this issue is simply to get a cheap stage I summit or ebay manifold with replaceable bushings in the middle bolt holes. Mine cost me like 105.00 shipped.

Regardless, I'd just have the shop fix your heads and stick with 'em. They work and they are better castings than the 187's.

 

ok so NO 187's got it..lol.The reason I can't pull them and have them rebuilt is because its my only car and I'm going threw a divorce and have two kids.I need a car and I had to get rid of my new one since I couldn't afford the payments myself.So I have to pull it apart and put it together the same day.So if I have rebult ones sitting there I can simply pull old off and bolt new on..I would love to have the ones on my car rebuilt but time won't allow it..honestly I haven't talked to an engine shop anyway I'm assuming turn around would be about 2 weeks or so...not possible with two kids..

 

If 1I

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were you I'd talk to a machine shop before committing. There are a few larger ones that operate on an exchange system, you give them heads, they give you heads.

Basically though, all you need to know is 1: swirlport = bad and 2: that 1987+ is what you need for your stock config to work. otherwise you'll need to modify your mani and it's kindof a headache to find that out with all the guts hangin' out.

The #081 heads SHOULD be what you are looking for.


EDIT: Sorry to hear 'bout your situation. You still have your Z and we all know that's the only lady that really matters

 

I emailed Marshall engines..they wanted about 260 bucks per head.they are the ones that told me 187's were vortech..so needless to say I won't buy from them...I will talk to my local engine shop and see what they say..sometimes they have heads laying around so maybe I will get lucky..