062 vortec heads

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Anybody runnin the 96-2005 5.7 vortec heads on your old 350 gen 1. You like em.............. Get any hp/torque gains.
Thanks
bob

[gmc684x4]

Was very popular before LS style engines become more affordable

I am building one for my 72 with roller cam block
it started as a cheap rebuild tested 8 blocks one was passable for machine work
after hot tanking the valley showed a major crack

here is a good read on them
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/97458/

https://itstillruns.com/difference-h...s-8037958.html

[BCOWANWHEELS]

my machinist says get aftermarket new heads, says all the used ones are cracked............. I like the old blocks 010/020 casting with flat tappet cam

[jbarron]

Just watch out for the exhaust ports.
They are not in the same location for standard rams horn manifolds.
The manifolds will bolt right up but there will be an overlap at the port causing a restriction.

Not sure about aftermarket.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

guess I,d better look at some gaskets...............maybe it would be better if I just got some aluminum aftermarket gen 1 heads. then I could do 11-1 compression

[geezer#99]

I’ve seen these recommended several times on other forums.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/FOR-CHEVY-SM...-/401601938684

[weim55]

I’ve done many builds with these heads over the years . Even on a bone stock 350 these heads will produce an additional 40 hp at the RPM peak. The real positive of these heads is the off idle and mid range torque increase. Another plus is you can run a flat top piston in a 350 and get the compression up and not run into issues with detonation because of the efficient combustion chamber. Unless it’s a factory correct restore ration I would never even consider using any other production head on a small block,these heads are really that much better.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[BCOWANWHEELS]

how did the exh manifolds line up

[KY_GMC]

I used these heads on my build. Took the original 350 and had it bored .030" over and then purchased a 383 rotating assembly for it. I used the dished pistons ( i think they were the 12cc) since I wanted to keep the compression ratio under 10:1 and use pump gas. All in all, the engine turned out better than expected. There is plenty of low end torque and there are no driveability issues at all. The only thing is that you will need a different water temp sensor and a vortec specific intake.

I am using the stock center bolt valve covers that came with the heads and I am now dealing with oil leaks at the back of the engine. Need to take some time and find some better gaskets.

I found the heads from an engine shop in Indy and they were already cleaned up and refurbished.

You can follow the link in my signature to see the build.

[weim55]

It’s been many years since I put together a 350 with stock exhaust manifolds and the Vortech heads. As I recall I only had to do some light work with a die grinder to clean up the port mismatch. The ports are raised slightly as well and I remember having to put a couple of relief dents in the exhaust head pipes to clear something (?)

Steve weim55 Colorado

[garyd1961]

I have a Vortec crate motor in my truck with headers. I installed the motor before I knew about the exhaust not matching up. Not sure if my headers match 6or or not but my motor runs great and I don't have any leaks. From what I understand the mismatch was pretty small and I doubt it would have much affect on a stock or almost stock moror.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

my engine has .125 dome pistons, 4.030 bore , .015 gaskets and vette exh manifolds

[berudd]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

I’ve seen these recommended several times on other forums.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/FOR-CHEVY-SM...-/401601938684

If that price is per bare head then by the time you buy two then buy valves, springs etc you're just about at what a complete set of Blueprint Engines heads would cost.

With Vortec heads I think your limited to around .450" of lift. I haven't done it but I have seen the videos of a DIY to increase that. You buy them done already but then they are almost as much as the Blueprint heads.

[weim55]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

my engine has .125 dome pistons, 4.030 bore , .015 gaskets and vette exh manifolds

There could be a problem with those dome pistons. The heart shaped combustion chamber on the Vortech head is very narrow and there could be interference with the piston dome in the cylinder head near the chamber. If you know the manufacture of the piston you might be able to call Summit racing or possibly the manufacture itself and ask about compatibility with the Vortec cylinder head. If this combination will work you’ll be pushing 11 to 1 compression ratio and that’s getting a bit steep on pump premium depending on other factors around your engine.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[Stormin08]

https://blueprintengines.com/product...lock-bp3503ct1

i have this in my 89, the paperwork that came with it claims 399Hp / 410Tq.

i want to say that they dyno with a 600cfm carb. i am running the 600hp rated FiTech.

the heads flow better than just about any SBC head produced. then come the LS. but for general daily driving / mild performance...they make good power.

i believe the spec'd cam is the largest that you can run, with out mods to the rocker stud bases.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

i,ve decided to go with my modded 882 heads, big stainless necked down stem valves, screw in studs, opened up pushrod holes, Viton seals, z28 springs n hardware, bowl blend and port matched both sides. my next 350 will be a vortex though I THINK..........
with my domes, .015 shim gaskets and 76cc heads comp should be hi 9,s perfect

[garyd1961]

I'm not an expert engine builder but two things I would never use today is a dome piston or 882 heads.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

why

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by garyd1961

I'm not an expert engine builder but two things I would never use today is a dome piston or 882 heads.

I built the same exact combo for my Camaro years ago, and it ran great. The .125” domes gets the compression back to a decent number, and 882’s actually flow decent (they flow better than stock 461, 462, 492, 186, etc. double humps) - or least better than a lot of stock old school SBC heads. My car had a Edelbrock RPM hyd cam hydraulic cam, Holley Street Dominator dual plane intake, a Holley 650, and shorty hearts and ran it 13.20’s in the 1/4 at the track. I drove that car daily for around a year with combo.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

I know 882,s arent perfect but i have em ready. My cam is the howards gm 350 / 350 hp copy with delphi anti pump up lifters and 1.6 rockers. The reason for .125 dome is to get compression to close to 10-1

P/S
THE 882,S DONT LIKE HI WATER TEMP , 180 DEG IS PERFECT

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

I know 882,s arent perfect but i have em ready. My cam is the howards gm 350 / 350 hp copy with delphi anti pump up lifters and 1.6 rockers. The reason for .125 dome is to get compression to close to 10-1

P/S
THE 882,S DONT LIKE HI WATER TEMP , 180 DEG IS PERFECT

Yeah, they are thinner casting than earlier heads, but they are fine if you get don’t get them hot. Back in the day, they ended up becoming the head of choice in bomber class dirt track racing because the rules stated you had to run no more than a 70cc combustion chamber, so that ruled out all the 64cc performance heads. Most people ran 441’s, 993’s, 478’s etc. for a long time until some figured out that the 882 (s**theads as they were called��) were making a little more power. People would angle mill them a little to get them to 70cc and they worked really well.

[garyd1961]

Originally Posted by BCOWANWHEELS

why

I threw away a set of 882s not long ago. A guy at work had spent a bunch of money on them only to have one crack in a very few miles. I bought what he had left over and junked the heads.
As I said I'm no expert but with todays gas I think you are better with flat top pistons and some type of vortec style head. It's what you need to get the compression and quench right to prevent spark knock, plus they just flow better.
Dome pistons were popular back in the day with high octane leaded gas but not so much with today's gas. I'm not saying you can't make it work I'm just saying it's doing it the hard way.