well, i wanna do a good budget buildup so the vortec heads come into play big time. Now, how much can the vortec TPI base be ported? is it basically the stock base with a raised edges? i just have a hard time seeing having to pay $400 for another stock basewhen you can get a lot better one for the same money. I wish edelbrock had a vortec version base. I asked them ans they said nope,never will.

 

Well if you read this far I have some input that may be useful. First you may want to look up a post here that was made by Mike Crews. I think it is one of the biggest posts here! It is real good stuff.
Second I have built three Vortec motors. One carb and two FI. For the carbed version I ran a ZZ4 cam from a early production ZZ4 motor. That was a 13 second car with headers and a 650 holley DP. Suspension was new stock. The first FI car I used the LPE 219/219 with AS&M runners. That car was quick, but only made 290 on the dyno. I think with LTRs it may be better to use a dual pattern cam instead of the one listed above. My most successfull attemt was with the Comp cams extreme cam XR269. PN CCA-08-502-8. At .050 218INT/224EXT Lift 495/503 112lobe seperation. The heads were outfitted with z28 springs for the lift. If you want my opinion.... ask around online and at car shops. First hand experience is good stuff. I would steer clear of the l98 cam. Also consider what you have to tune when your done because it makes a difference. FI is time consuming if you go radical.

 

I want a car that idles ok, has great drivibility and decent gas milage with the vortec heads and SDPC base. I have speed density. Your saying that the comps cam you listed would be a good choice for me? also what ratio rockers where you running on the 3rd engine? Im looking for 375-400 FWHP

 

Stock cams have their place.I went 12.6 at 111mph at 9lb of boost on a totally stock motor.If you plan on putting a power adder on it keep it stock.On motor I would not spend all that money and time on installing heads not to take advantage of the new flow,not worth it.But you can be the tester and tell us how it works out

 

ya the only bad art about be the tester is the fact that if it dont work then I gotta start over with less money to spend. Thats not a good thing. plus I wanna do this once thats it

 

I used 1.5 rocker arms. I personally like to steer clear of bigger ratio rockers when I can. Your buying a cam,,, why buy rockers to supplement it. Just buy a cam with the specs you want. It is easier on the valve train to spin a differently shaped lobe than it is driving up the leverage on critical drivetrain parts. If you have speed density FI that is a good start. Stock SD is easier to tune than mass air flow and you do not have to deal with the restriction of a sensor