I got a 87 Vortec 350 that is out of a truck and was wondering if it was worth building.
It will need the normal rebuild and things but I want anywhere from 350 to 450 HP out of it. I would like some ideas from you PRO'S out there to help get this thing ready for me to run in the spring.
I would like to run the Edlebrock Air Gap manifold and a Holly Street avenger carb.
It has the stock vortec heads on it also. I will be using them.
give me your ideas and help me get this going. Try to keep it low on the money cause after my trip and new Hemi Ram I am out of cash!!!
Thanks All.
Let the building begin!!! graemlins/beers.gif

get the HOT cam kit (part number 12480002) from your local GM dealer (about $500 if you shop around) and have the heads modified for the lift of the cam and have the included springs and retainers installed. get screw in studs installed in the heads while they are at the machine shop.
you can re-use your stock roller lifters and pushrods.
there ya go, close to 400 horses- depending which magazines you read. all i know is that i have the HOT cam and unported vortecs with a regular performar vortec (i gotta run a Q-jet carb. I'm funny like that), and it is a good running combo from idle up past 7000 rpm that gets 17 mpg with 3.70 gears and no overdrive.

mwc67, did you mean to say that you have a '97 model truck engine ? Only the '96 to '98 model trucks had the vortec heads.

You got me on that one. The guy I got it from said it was a vortec motor out of a truck. But it has the 2 piece rear main seal and the old style vortec heads. Any ideas?

Does it have the three triangles casted on the front of the heads?

I think what you mean by "Vortec" is the little swirl deal casted in the intake port. This is not the same as the Vortec heads that started in '96.

These earlier heads had a extra material in the valve bowl that helped put the air into a swirling motion, increasing fuel atomization and velocity. These COULD be helpful in a truck application, where RPMs seldom go above 3000, as it could help build extra torque. I would use them with nothing more than a stock camshaft.

Some people have taken their die grinder and removed this extra material, but it's not worth the effort IMO. If you want to make sure what those heads came off of, check out the casting number on http://www.mortec.com, then you can find out what they are.

If that was the original block, it should have a one piece seal. But over time, who knows what happens to these engines...

Ok I just got off the phone with my freind. He said it is a 78 block and a set of 90 or 91 heads. Does this sound right? The block is a truck block. He is going to pull the motor apart and figure out what it needs. He works at a engine shop and got this motor from another guy.
I know it needs rebuilt but don't know if I should use these heads. I was thinking of using the hole Edelbrock RPM package heads and all.
It won't see track time but I do want the power when I want it.
Your help on this is really usefull. I have done everything to this car except the outer body and paint. I can't do the machine work on the engine but I can put it together.
Thanks.

Doesnt sound like it's going to be a vortec to me.

If you do plan on getting edelbrock heads. Look into the E-tech heads. Car Craft built a 350 and got over 500 hp with the 200 cc intake runner heads. They do require a vortec manifold. They are edels compitition for the fast burn head, but are suppose to flow better. And at $1050 they look like a good deal to me.

With those heads what cam would you use? I don't want to go to big but I do want the power to show.
I will check back later.

A good PROVEN vortec head combo that wont blow yoru wallet would be......

350, vortecs heads (duh)
9.5:1 or more
XE274 cam (idles good enough for daily drivers)
RPM intake
750 carb
3.73 rear with 26" tall tires
2800-3500RPM stall (depending on your streetability concerns)

I've seen 3300+lb cars run low 12's with this combo. One guy around here has this setup with pocket ported vortecs running 12.0 @ something like 112mph in a heavy car.

282 comp cams hyd roller would be the best for the vortec heads with a 3000 stall converter and good 4.11 gears.

Are you refering to the.....

* Advertised duration: 282 intake/288 exhaust
* Duration at .050 in. cam lift: 230 intake/236 exhaust
* Gross valve lift: .510 in. intake/.520 in. exhaust
* Lobe separation: 110 degrees
* RPM range: 2,200 to 5,800
* Great for street machines

The lift of that cam is scary. The retainers on my vortecs get unsafely close to the valve guides around .510 lift.

ya thats right i had mine machined for bigger valvesprings but if you would getter better springs you can use it. by the way they got new springs out for vortec heads you don't even have to machine the spring pockets to use them. i think i seen them in jegs or summit.

Bigger springs don't solve the problem. You could install 1.55" springs that are good for .600 lift BUT you are still going to have the spring retainer smack into the valve guide at .520'ish lift especially with the stock valve seals on vortecs. Theres a few ways to solve this problem but keep in mind vortecs flow peak out at about .500 so going much over that will do you no good.

and remember folks: vortec heads are baby cammed truck heads. Their stock valve springs are junk you shouldnt even think about using them (unless you're using the stock cam, of course) Always get the recommended valve springs for the cam installed...

I have seen the Pro Topline vortec heads selling on e-bay for $665.00 shipped. These look like a great deal,they just need assembly.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33617&item=2426404699


I e-mailed pro-topline about the claimes made and they day it's all true. I am going to be needing a set of heads soon and I am thinking of these. What would a good comboe be to run with them. I don't want a stall coverter over 1800 because of drivabilty, and I want it to run on pump gas reliably. Mine will be going on 327 to start but some day will see a 350. I think a combo like this one that would be popular with people here. Any ideas on how to build it. I am thinking more street but we all want to blast of power, might even make a pass now and then too.

Joe

[ 09-01-2003, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Joe Harrison ]