I am going to get new heads I really like the looks of the patriot 185cc vortec preassembled. I am having trouble finding reviews from actual owners. I was wondering if you could tell me how you like yours?

I had the patriot vortec heads on my last 355. I ordered them from jegs and then researched them while they were being shipped. If I would have read about them before I ordered them I probably would have avoided them from what little feedback I could find on them none was good. However the set I got were not like what people were saying about them and I was happy. I liked them enough I would buy another set or maybe even upgrade. My 355 had 11:1 compression ratio,comp cams magnum 292 cam, weiand air strike manifold with a Holley 750 dp and Doug thorley tri y headers. My 78 c10 long bed truck weighing in at about 5000 pounds was a handful. It would smoke the tires at a 55-60 MPH rolling start if I really pushed it. Hands down I don't think they can be beat for the money.

Thanks for the info. I have been looking for good reviews on patriot for a while. Most of what I read was second hand and about some of the aluminum heads. I have found very little about the vortec heads so I have been contacting everybody I can find that actually owns a set.

Sorry just one more question. Did you buy them assembled and were there any problems?

Sorry it took so long to get back to you I have been working 15 hour days. I bought them from jegs ready bolt on and go. No problems really that I can remember. If you call the tech support number they are really help full. I originally was using a vortec manifold and I highly recommend you do. Or atleast use a manifold with large runners or it will be a real pita to get sealed. I switched to a standard old style edelbrock performer intake and there wasn't any room for being off center at all. Also if you use a standard manifold you will need 4 5/16 bolts or set screws to seal the valley where the vortec bolts go. Click on my photo bucket link to see the pictures of my installation I used studs to hold my intake on. Also not that flow numbers are all to be concerned about compare them to other heads in and around the same price range you will see the edelbrock street heads or e street heads cost more are aluminum and still don't flow as well. I think these heads with a 0.500 ish lift cam and 240-250* duration @ 0.050 will make the average person scared for a while.