Gen I small block heads, anything better then vortecs?

[Tom]

I know what your thinking, of course there are better heads! BUT, I'm looking at this from a stock or stockish cam perspective. Meaning, valve lift will be less then .500", less then .450" with the stock cam.

I've looked at flow charts, and I'm having a hard time finding comparable heads that flow more cfm at these low lift numbers. Over .500", lots of heads flow better. That's useless to me on my daily. Even the Etec 170's seem to be slightly less cfm below .500". I'm sure some AFR 227's might top the numbers slightly, but again those aren't useful for a mild 350. So, is there anything out there that I'm not finding? I'm looking for alternative castings for when I rebuild my 98's engine, vortecs are notorious for cracking and I'm over 200k miles so I'm just gonna assume they've cracked.

[THI]

EngineQuest makes a nice replacement Vortec head, heavier casting than the factory. I have used them on a couple of small block builds and really like them.

[b454rat]

Scoggin Dickey has some Vortecs too....

[biketopia]

LT4 Hot Cam and a set of Vortec heads is a very healthy and street mannered combo. If you could find some GM fast burn heads they would be sweet but for a stock style re-build any of the already mentioned replacements works, Jegs and Summit offer a "house" brand version as well.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by biketopia

If you could find some GM fast burn heads they would be sweet

Those actually flow less in the lift range my stock cam runs.

[TATE228]

Can you post a link to these vortec flow numbers? I am just curious.

[jamyers]

Summit's basic iron heads are made by Dart, have good heart-shaped combustion chambers, 185cc intake runners, and flow between 230-245 out of the box.

Got a pair on my 350, they're way more than needed for a stocker, imho

[mattfranklin]

There was an issue on cam lift limits, but that can be fixed with a cutting tool from Comp. I've not done it myself, but it looks straightforward.

I know you said you weren't interested in higher lifts for your daily, but fixing that when the heads are off would give you more options later.

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by mattfranklin

There was an issue on cam lift limits, but that can be fixed with a cutting tool from Comp. I've not done it myself, but it looks straightforward.

I know you said you weren't interested in higher lifts for your daily, but fixing that when the heads are off would give you more options later.

You can solve it without cutting by just using a different retainer, seal and then using an LS spring. The part numbers should pop up with a quick google search. I did that on my last motor when I had the LT4 Hot Cam in a vortec headed 350. However, many of the newer versions of the casting already take that step and cut the spring seat and install springs that can take a valve lift event closer to or greater than .500

[Tom]

Originally Posted by mattfranklin

There was an issue on cam lift limits, but that can be fixed with a cutting tool from Comp. I've not done it myself, but it looks straightforward.

I know you said you weren't interested in higher lifts for your daily, but fixing that when the heads are off would give you more options later.

I have the tools, I did it to the vortecs on my 78. If I keep vortecs on my 98, then sure I'd do it during a rebuild. Otherwise, there is no point if I don't plan on increasing lift past their limits. That's what my 78 is for [243/251@.050 solid lifter, .501/.520 lift with 1.5's ]

Originally Posted by TATE228

Can you post a link to these vortec flow numbers? I am just curious.

I've looked at flow charts from multiple sources over time, its not any one specific internet link.