Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
+9
1973chevelle
JB2wheeler
novaderrik
Limey SE
BlackChevelleSS
TWBouska AKA Wooderson
74Malibu383
ant7377
coreys73chevelle
13 posters
G3GM :: G3 :: General Discussion
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Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
doing a cam and top end swap on the 350 in the elco, knew that you need special intake for vortec heads because they have a different than stock bolt pattern. What i didnt know is that stock style valve covers will not work either. vortec heads will only take centerbolt valve covers. found this out the hard way today so now my car is down another few days...which SUCKS...copied the chevy high performance "QUEST FOR POWER" build which was good for 408 horses and 430 lb-ft of torque. I just really wanna fire this baby up.
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
thanks for the info! just remember to get a video of it
coreys73chevelle- G3GM Senior Member
- Street Cred : 8
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
You can get adapters to use regular valve covers.
ant7377- G3GM Addict
- Street Cred : 36
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Or buy the center bolt covers NIB I have here for 35 plus the ride, AND FOR ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED I HAVE A COMPLETE VORTEC SET UP WITH MANIFOLD NIB AND FRESH VORTEC HEADS FOR SALE
___________________________________________
1977 Chevelle SE x2
One Mild original
one Wild NON original
Anthony
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 98
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Thats exactly what I need, but am in such bad financial shape I will have a "check" to bounce because it goes thru automatically 2 days before I get paid next week. The last 12 months have been hell for me financially. I sure hope my luck changes!!! JBLimey wrote:Or buy the center bolt covers NIB I have here for 35 plus the ride, AND FOR ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED I HAVE A COMPLETE VORTEC SET UP WITH MANIFOLD NIB AND FRESH VORTEC HEADS FOR SALE
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
keep your spirits up JB it will turn around for you soon
and this is the first time I mentioned them here so I will hold off posting them to see if your rubber check doesnt bounce to high
and this is the first time I mentioned them here so I will hold off posting them to see if your rubber check doesnt bounce to high
___________________________________________
1977 Chevelle SE x2
One Mild original
one Wild NON original
Anthony
Limey SE- Management
- Street Cred : 98
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
centerbolt valve covers should be nice and cheap- any decent junkyard will have dozens of them on trucks and Caprices for a few bucks.
look at a few different engines, tho. there are actually a few different configurations of breather, PCV, and oil fill holes. i think the early 90's TBI Caprices have the best layout, and they even use slick looking torx head bolts to hold the valve covers down instead of the regular 5/16" hex head bolts. but the bolts are interchangeable among all the center bolt valve covers, with the exception of the 90's Vettes that had the plastic covers.
while you are looking for valve covers, grab the plug wire looms from a TBI pickup or suburban. they are about the cleanest factory plug wire loom setup, and look and function better than any aftermarket setup i've ever seen.
look at a few different engines, tho. there are actually a few different configurations of breather, PCV, and oil fill holes. i think the early 90's TBI Caprices have the best layout, and they even use slick looking torx head bolts to hold the valve covers down instead of the regular 5/16" hex head bolts. but the bolts are interchangeable among all the center bolt valve covers, with the exception of the 90's Vettes that had the plastic covers.
while you are looking for valve covers, grab the plug wire looms from a TBI pickup or suburban. they are about the cleanest factory plug wire loom setup, and look and function better than any aftermarket setup i've ever seen.
novaderrik- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 7
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
thanks for the heads up...i went ahead and ordered them already though, but now i know for the future. J2B i hope that your luck turns around soon, i was where you are about a year ago myself, so i know how you feel.
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Limey wrote:Or buy the center bolt covers NIB I have here for 35 plus the ride, AND FOR ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED I HAVE A COMPLETE VORTEC SET UP WITH MANIFOLD NIB AND FRESH VORTEC HEADS FOR SALE
Limey's shameless plug of the day, LMAO!
Most any heads you find that were made from the mid 80's-on will be centerbolt. They seal better anyways, so you just helped yourself out without even knowing it! Just make sure if you try to buy roller rockers in the future to look carefully at the description. You need self aligning narrow style arms that clear centerbolt valve covers.
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Dont hold them for me, Limey. I always take the attitude that Doris Day did, Que Sera Sera. You dont get to my age unless you do take that attitude. JBLimey wrote:keep your spirits up JB it will turn around for you soon
and this is the first time I mentioned them here so I will hold off posting them to see if your rubber check doesnt bounce to high
JB2wheeler- G3GM Fanatic
- Street Cred : 28
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
[quote="Rago"]
thanks for mentioning it i did get the self aligning ones but im glad you mentioned it for anyone else on here that is thinking about doing this swap
Limey wrote: Just make sure if you try to buy roller rockers in the future to look carefully at the description. You need self aligning narrow style arms that clear centerbolt valve covers.
thanks for mentioning it i did get the self aligning ones but im glad you mentioned it for anyone else on here that is thinking about doing this swap
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
novaderrik wrote:
while you are looking for valve covers, grab the plug wire looms from a TBI pickup or suburban. they are about the cleanest factory plug wire loom setup, and look and function better than any aftermarket setup i've ever seen.
thanks for the heads up, next time i hit the yard ill see what i can find.
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
I dont know if you done the research or not but there are better vortec heads than others. I dont remember the numbers are the moment, but just to let you know. I got buttloads of them all up at the shop. (lots of motor swaps)
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www.cardomain.com/id/3115ultima
BlackChevelleSS- Management
- Street Cred : 20
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
And you gave me some swirl ports on the trade? Thanks buddy, lol.
BTW, 062 castings are the more desirable castings. SOME 906 heads flow just as well, but some were modified to use an exhaust seat insert.
BTW, 062 castings are the more desirable castings. SOME 906 heads flow just as well, but some were modified to use an exhaust seat insert.
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Hey I didnt have any of the Vortec stuff until recently (like in the past 6 months)
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www.cardomain.com/id/3115ultima
BlackChevelleSS- Management
- Street Cred : 20
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
That's cool. Just a little razzing.
I was going to ask what all of the white caulking stuff was that's in all of the threaded holes on that 350? Somebody must have gotten bored & decided to do some drywalling, lol. I think I'm gonna use those heads for practice to see if I can do something with the swirl vane though. Might be interesting to see what kind of flow #s can be acheived. It almost seems like such a waste that the exhaust flows so well (allegedly on par with Vortecs) & the intake is corked up like that. Worst case scenario is I waste my time entertaining myself, right?
I was going to ask what all of the white caulking stuff was that's in all of the threaded holes on that 350? Somebody must have gotten bored & decided to do some drywalling, lol. I think I'm gonna use those heads for practice to see if I can do something with the swirl vane though. Might be interesting to see what kind of flow #s can be acheived. It almost seems like such a waste that the exhaust flows so well (allegedly on par with Vortecs) & the intake is corked up like that. Worst case scenario is I waste my time entertaining myself, right?
The Dude- Management
- Street Cred : 48
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
BlackChevelleSS wrote:I dont know if you done the research or not but there are better vortec heads than others. I dont remember the numbers are the moment, but just to let you know. I got buttloads of them all up at the shop. (lots of motor swaps)
i did quite a bit of research, i found that the patriot versions are probably the best but their sold out until the end of april, then theres the GM performance versions, and then summitt and jegs each make their own versions, as far as bang for the buck, i really recommend the summitt ones, i got a cam/lifter kit, the heads, the self aligning rockers, edelbrock eps intake, timing chain all the bolts, and all the gaskets and a free air cleaner for about a grand out the door.
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
i dont know never noticed it before.
___________________________________________
www.cardomain.com/id/3115ultima
BlackChevelleSS- Management
- Street Cred : 20
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
centerbolt covers are the best thing gm ever did , well other than the LT1, but they are a great improvement over perimeter bolt covers.
Jim_Rockford- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 4
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Not so sure I agree with that.... I've yet to find a decent looking set of centerbolt valve covers, and you can't fit the big roller rockers under them without a spacer. And the LT1??? The LS series blows the LT out of the water.
74Malibu383- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 26
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
LS series sucks for affordability, frigging plug wires for a LS cost as much as a set of headers for a LT1..lol and I personally Like stock black center bolt covers.. Chrome don't get you home.
Jim_Rockford- G3GM Member
- Street Cred : 4
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Suppose you're right on both accounts. Can't deny the power of the LS motors though!
74Malibu383- Donating Member
- Street Cred : 26
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
yeah i was going to do the 5.7 liter swap out of a silverado into my elco and we were gonna pick up an LQ4 for my girlfriends chevelle for about 500 each but with all the either B.S. that comes up when adding it up its not worth the money...if only i had disposable income...although im pretty happy with the set up i just finished...probably a little too much cam though.
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
hey rago found out that three sets of the 4 of the vortec heads we got were cracked right at the exhaust valve seats on the two inner cylinders.
___________________________________________
www.cardomain.com/id/3115ultima
BlackChevelleSS- Management
- Street Cred : 20
Re: Heads up for any of you guys thinking about going the vortec route on your small block.
Sh1t....if i crack another set of heads im gonna be pissed.
TWBouska AKA Wooderson- G3GM Enthusiast
- Street Cred : 6
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