Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**chev-obsession** · 12-03-2010, 08:47 PM

What is the difference between the bowtie heads and vortec heads?

cableguy0 · 12-03-2010, 10:50 PM

Bowtie heads are racing heads. Most of the bowtie castings have large ports and are along the same lines as a set of dart iron eagles. The vortec heads are a stock head that came factory. They are the best flowing productions head from Gm but its not fair to compare vortecs to bowties its apples to oranges.

*stich626* · 12-03-2010, 11:05 PM

the vortecs out flow most bowtie heads,

**Captainfab** · 12-04-2010, 01:20 AM

There are also Bowtie Vortec heads. They are over the counter heads with larger intake ports, valves, etc. than the production heads.

cableguy0 · 12-04-2010, 12:57 PM

vortecs might outflow bowties under .500 lift but anything over that and vortecs are done. They simply wont flow anymore.

*Ticker* · 12-04-2010, 01:20 PM

These conversations are best had with specific part numbers in front of everyone

cableguy0 · 12-04-2010, 01:23 PM

Utt ohh here comes tickers with facts again

.... Very good point.

darthwall · 12-04-2010, 02:06 PM

ok lets say the 906 casting to the 034 bowtie

*Ticker* · 12-04-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthwall

ok lets say the 906 casting to the 034 bowtie

This is a question that has an answer

The Vortec is a far better head. The 12480034 head is intended for racing classes that require a "Stock/Replacement" type head and they're based on the '462 (camel back) type casting...but with a ton of extra room in the casting for decking or angle milling and porting. They have a bit better chamber and runner configuration than the old heads, but not by much. They're only available bare for around $750/pair...so they're pretty pricey for mild street head!

This is the same type of head offered by Dart, World, etc. that has been certified for those "old skool" racing classes.

Racers add in 40 hours or so of porting and maybe a little angle milling and get a pretty decent tier 1 head out of them...but for most folks either the Vortec or another tier 1 head is going to be a better deal.

**chev-obsession** · 12-05-2010, 01:09 PM

ok sweet thats some good info!

I was mainly asking what the difference between the two was. not really trying to compare. my bad!

So these "vortec bowtie" heads, are they good for the street or more for race?

*Ticker* · 12-05-2010, 03:40 PM

No bad - just Chevy puts "bowtie" on a lot of stuff

GMPP sells Bowtie Vortecs in two sizes - "small port" 185cc under P/N 25534421 and "large port" 225cc under P/N 25534446. Both heads have 2.00/1.550 valves. It takes either a fair bit of RPM or a fair bit of CID to use these heads, so they'd be targeted at a 450+ HP 355 for the small ports, and a 500+ HP 400+ for the 225s.

**chev-obsession** · 12-05-2010, 05:11 PM

so the small ports would'nt really go well with my 327?

it was just an idea more or less, i know that people have showed me some other heads but thought i might ask since i didnt know anything about them.

*Ticker* · 12-05-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chev-obsession

so the small ports would'nt really go well with my 327?

it was just an idea more or less, i know that people have showed me some other heads but thought i might ask since i didnt know anything about them.

Well, this is a completely different question, i.e. what head to use for a specific application .

Specs on the 327 would help - CR, cam, intake, exhaust, gears, budget, etc.

**chev-obsession** · 12-05-2010, 08:01 PM

well only i can't answer all of those questions.

im shooting for 9.5 to 10.5 cr, cam idk yet most likely a Crane around a .470 lift with a 110 lsa, exhaust not sure, gears 3.73, intake eldelbrock rpm air gap most likely, no more than 2500 stall , manual brakes. budget... lol probably $2500 but who knows

shortbed70 · 12-05-2010, 09:31 PM

Small port vortecs will be fine with that cam.

*Ticker* · 12-05-2010, 10:37 PM

In that case you're looking at the standard GMPP Vortecs - not the Bowtie versions.

**Captainfab** · 12-05-2010, 11:57 PM

I agree

The standard Vortecs will work just fine on a mild to moderate 327.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ticker

In that case you're looking at the standard GMPP Vortecs - not the Bowtie versions.

**chev-obsession** · 12-06-2010, 12:25 AM

Fair enough. Thought i might ask though! Thanks guys!

royo · 12-06-2010, 04:43 PM

Does anyone have some flow numbers any of these heads Also what is the best vortec head out there for street 400ci plus?

**Captainfab** · 12-07-2010, 12:32 AM

Most every aftermarket head manufacturer will have flow numbers on their website. Here are a couple private sites with some flow numbers also.....

http://users.erols.com/srweiss/tablehdc.htm

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sum...fo/heads1.html

As for what head to use on a SB400, that depends on a lot of things. A couple being, how the rest of the engine is built and what is the intended useage of this engine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by royo

Does anyone have some flow numbers any of these heads Also what is the best vortec head out there for street 400ci plus?

12-03-2010, 08:47 PM	#1
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,465	Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads What is the difference between the bowtie heads and vortec heads? __________________ 1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb

12-03-2010, 10:50 PM	#2
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads Bowtie heads are racing heads. Most of the bowtie castings have large ports and are along the same lines as a set of dart iron eagles. The vortec heads are a stock head that came factory. They are the best flowing productions head from Gm but its not fair to compare vortecs to bowties its apples to oranges. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

12-03-2010, 11:05 PM	#3
stich626 Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: hingham ma Posts: 1,721	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads the vortecs out flow most bowtie heads,

12-04-2010, 01:20 AM	#4
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,246	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads There are also Bowtie Vortec heads. They are over the counter heads with larger intake ports, valves, etc. than the production heads. __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

12-04-2010, 12:57 PM	#5
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads vortecs might outflow bowties under .500 lift but anything over that and vortecs are done. They simply wont flow anymore. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

12-04-2010, 01:20 PM	#6
Ticker Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 2,404	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads These conversations are best had with specific part numbers in front of everyone

12-04-2010, 01:23 PM	#7
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads Utt ohh here comes tickers with facts again .... Very good point. __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

12-04-2010, 02:06 PM	#8
darthwall Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: washington Posts: 274	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads ok lets say the 906 casting to the 034 bowtie

12-05-2010, 01:09 PM	#10
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,465	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads ok sweet thats some good info! I was mainly asking what the difference between the two was. not really trying to compare. my bad! So these "vortec bowtie" heads, are they good for the street or more for race? __________________ 1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb

12-05-2010, 03:40 PM	#11
Ticker Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 2,404	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads No bad - just Chevy puts "bowtie" on a lot of stuff GMPP sells Bowtie Vortecs in two sizes - "small port" 185cc under P/N 25534421 and "large port" 225cc under P/N 25534446. Both heads have 2.00/1.550 valves. It takes either a fair bit of RPM or a fair bit of CID to use these heads, so they'd be targeted at a 450+ HP 355 for the small ports, and a 500+ HP 400+ for the 225s.

12-05-2010, 05:11 PM	#12
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,465	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads so the small ports would'nt really go well with my 327? it was just an idea more or less, i know that people have showed me some other heads but thought i might ask since i didnt know anything about them. __________________ 1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb

12-05-2010, 08:01 PM	#14
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,465	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads well only i can't answer all of those questions. im shooting for 9.5 to 10.5 cr, cam idk yet most likely a Crane around a .470 lift with a 110 lsa, exhaust not sure, gears 3.73, intake eldelbrock rpm air gap most likely, no more than 2500 stall , manual brakes. budget... lol probably $2500 but who knows __________________ 1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb

12-05-2010, 09:31 PM	#15
shortbed70 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Forney TX Posts: 4,512	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads Small port vortecs will be fine with that cam. __________________ Troy 1965 Chevy Bagged,361 sbc,voodoo cam,1.5 full roller rockers,patriot 185cc vortec heads 2.02-1.60,vortec weiand polished intake,demon carb my truckhttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=332884 Big Red Dog build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=572274

12-05-2010, 10:37 PM	#16
Ticker Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 2,404	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads In that case you're looking at the standard GMPP Vortecs - not the Bowtie versions.

12-06-2010, 12:25 AM	#18
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,465	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads Fair enough. Thought i might ask though! Thanks guys! __________________ 1965 c/10 swb 1969 c/10 lwb



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12-06-2010, 04:43 PM	#19
royo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: knoxville tn Posts: 1,013	Re: Bowtie heads vs. Vortec heads Does anyone have some flow numbers any of these heads Also what is the best vortec head out there for street 400ci plus? __________________ nickle and dime

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