I've been hearing about vortec heads alot lately, What makes them better? I have a 67 327 slightly built, and am looking for more performance. Would this help me? What car can I get them off? will they just bolt on?
Thanx

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Severe 67

The design of the vortecs makes them better. The chamber size is smaller (more compression), I think they are D shaped chambers, and they flow better. You can get them from any GM parts dealer (new ~$400) or a late model truck (late 90s I believe). You will need to get a different manifold the bolt pattern is different.

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68SS ZZ4, 4sp T-10, 12 bolt, getting painted

78Z28, 330hp vortec, TH350, 10 bolt (just finished)

[This message has been edited by 1st & 2nd GENGuy (edited 04-10-2000).]

A different intake manifold? or exhaust manifold?

Thanx

It takes a different intake manifold. I have a '96 truck 350 in my '68 right now. 1996 is the first year the vortecs came on truck motors. I have an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake (PN# 7116). I would not recommend trying to drill the vortec heads to adapt them to a normal small block intake because the vortec head intake ports are taller.

The Vortec heads I saw had heart shaped combustion chambers.

Thanx everyone, I'll try to find some v-tec heads in the yards, I'll keep Y'all posted.

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Severe 67

I've got the Vortecs on my 67 327 RS and they are much better than my previous heads!

The only problem with Vortechs is that they are light weight castings. If you are buying used, watch for cracks. Several people I have talked to have found cracks on low mileage stock engines.

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Hugger Orange & white 69 Camaro with supercharged 350, Tremec TKO, and 3.73 12-bolt

See my website updated 4/5/00 at:

www.geocities.com/gheatly (http://www.geocities.com/gheatly)

Just curious. Taking into consideration that the V-tecs are of such light castings. What is the opinion/experience on just how much compression that these heads can with stand with out developing stress cracks as i am considering using some myself. Thanks in advance.

71 Camairo

Although they are some of the best flowing GM heads made, the Vortec heads just aren't up to snuff for performance engines. Their flow can make good horsepower, but they can't handle the horsepower they make.

GM admits that their durability is questionable on high performance applications. Knowing that, why would you want to put a set on a $3,000 to $5,000 high performance engine?

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Hugger Orange & white 69 Camaro with supercharged 350, Tremec TKO, and 3.73 12-bolt

See my website updated 4/5/00 at:

www.geocities.com/gheatly (http://www.geocities.com/gheatly)

Hey, I haven't heard of anybody having problems with the Vortec heads. I bought a pair, but haven't got the new motor in. My truck uses them, and no problems there. The car mags have been dyno flogging a pair for several months without a problem. Anybody else using them? Anybody else had the heads crack? Thanks for your responses, steve laabs.

For everyone's info, when these heads first came out in the GM high performance parts catalog, they made the comment I mentioned about durability. I have the catalog at home. I haven't looked at a recent catalog. Have they taken this sentence out of the part description?

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Hugger Orange & white 69 Camaro with supercharged 350, Tremec TKO, and 3.73 12-bolt

See my website updated 4/5/00 at:

www.geocities.com/gheatly (http://www.geocities.com/gheatly)

gheatly,
No. My GMPP catalog says something like, "Consider these super-flowing, hi-tech, Vortec heads, but don't quit buying our low-tech, heavy Bowtie heads. 'Cause we still got a load of 'em in inventory. And they don't flow well, but they're sure heavy. So they're probably stronger." Actually, the sentence is "This head...flows more air than the bow tie head..., but the casting MAY (my caps) not be as durable. Seriously, though, these are production heads used on trucks. They're still cast iron, not aluminum. It struck me as a marketing gimmick to unload some old bowtie heads. Steve Laabs