I bought a 89 gta with Edelbrock heads( so I think). I was looking at the intake and seen he cut slots from the bolt holes out, like it did not match up. Could there be the vortech bolt patten heads on a stock tpi intake, and if so do the ports match up right. The car has great pull to about 2200 to 2700, and it drops off from there. Does anyone have any ideas? I dont want to spend $450 on a intake I don't need. It is not the l98 motor in it anymore

 

Sounds like you have some serious issues. But to answer your question, why don't you get the casting #'s off the heads and go from there.

 

On different heads the threaded holes for bolting the intake are at a different angle. Most people just make the hole oblong. But Ive never heard or seen someone do what your describing. I keep thinking....vacuum leaks

 

Well I'll tell you this.. their not vortech heads, because vortech heads have a completely different bolt pattern. The heads are likely to be designed for an older bolt style intake. They changed the center to bolts in each head in 1987, they also changed the Valve Cover bolts, they moved them to the center of the valve covers, thus raising the rails and eliminating the bolt holes in them, which helped the valve cover seals do their job... no more oil leaks.

As far as slotting those bolts, as long as there is silicone around the holes, and in the slots, you're fine. The only thing that is right there is the EGR Port going through the head, which isn't high pressure or vacuum, I doubt it will leak. I've heard other people on the boards doing this without problems.

 

Everything else aside for a moment, Vortec heads can be drilled for a conventional SBC intake. The Fastburns would be a good example, in which they are drilled for both.

 

I think I am going to take off the intake just to see why they did that. It will be fun thanks for the info

 

Hmm, okay well I guess I was wrong, I guess anything can be made to fit with anything... I just don't think it would be common to re-drill Vortec heads for a typical SBC Intake.

My bad.

 

Please tell me you mean 2200 to 4700 and not 2200 to 2700.....

 

Before SDPC released their intake, a lot of people were working HARD to make them work with conventional intakes. One guy here actually welded material onto the ports to make it work. Quite impressive actually.