hello,

i need to replace my head gaskets, and i have a new edelbrock vortec bolt pattern intake manifold sitting around that i figure ill put on since im gonna be taking it all apart anyway. im looking for vortec heads that will just bolt in, no modifications required. not all that worried about performance just want to get the car back on the road.

will these do?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-151124

thanks.

 

Those should work but they are not true gm vortec heads, they are old dart iron eagle 165 heads that have been redrilled for vortec intakes. Look at gm performance parts heads from scoggin dickey as an option but the summit heads arent bad for mild builds

 

Good looking heads for the money. Do have the heart shaped chamber, 3 angle valve job, 67cc chamber. Seems like they have 1.25 inch springs in a 1.5 inch pocket? Looks like you need self align rockers, or buy some guide plates. Still a decent buy I'd think.

 

I think you'd be better off finding some GM 062/906 heads from Craigslist.

 

Hate to disagree (especially with a moderator), but buying used heads is a crapshoot, and used Vortecs can be pretty "iffY" at that. And if those are Dart heads to start with, that's a pretty good buy. $1200 worth of heads for under $800. I'd go for them myself. Interesting find.

 

agree with the crapshoot, but not a real fan of the darts. ...at least compared to "real" vortecs. I stopped reading an article on those heads when they said "WOW, they even outflow double hump heads!!!!" ...but who knows. But I always say ya gotta pay to play. While it may in fact be a crapshoot, $250 for a set of used vortecs is gamble worth taking I think. ...unless of course we're talking all the "upgrades" then prices jump. ...but even then SDPC RA2 Vortecs are only $900.

 

You are going to need modification to retain your EGR as well as tuning to make it run right. That being said, buy a good head like the Edelbrock Etec 170. I have a pair of those on my Vortec Express. Bolted right on with a pair of 1.6:1 roller rockers and has run strong ever since. I gave a much lighter F150 aluminum body crew cab Ecoboost truck a run for his money from 30-80 mph in my 6,200 lbs Express van yesterday morning.

 

GM performance parts Vortecs are $312 a piece At Jegs.Only problem with the GM factory castings is that they are very light weight castings and if over heated will crack between the intake and exhaust seats.I have seen these cracks at my friends machine shop.

 

I thought every production head for the sbc was light weight since the early 70's. Am I wrong about that assumption?

 

I can't say when they changed, but yeah....my understanding was that Vortecs were no more prone to cracks than any other recent iron GM head, it's just that they're much more sought after, so you hear more occurrences of cracks. Not a huge market for Iron 083 heads!!! LOL

 

EQ Vortec cylinder heads are a great head. Come complete and ready for screw in studs.

 

Yep the late model GM heads are all thin castings and are prone to cracking.The Engine Quest Vortecs are a better head Than GM"s