Thread: 350 chev streetable engine build

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Hey Guys. Thanks for all the info. Tech, I appreciate your knowledge on this and I think I will go with the vortec heads. What are your thoughts on the vortec heads cracking like Pat says?
Thanks, Brad

Originally Posted by bad brad

Hey Guys. Thanks for all the info. Tech, I appreciate your knowledge on this and I think I will go with the vortec heads. What are your thoughts on the vortec heads cracking like Pat says?
Thanks, Brad

well i am not taking anything away from Tech . i do have a machine shop . I look at heads every day .all i am telling you the last 8 sets i have seen in my shop 4 set of them have been junk .that all so go s for the dodge magum heads if you buy the gm heads if not all set up to go. your going to spend good money to make them work. on top of the machine work they will need . i use the aftermarket heads .for the stock vtec heads. the last set of GM vtech heads i did .i hot tank and mag 3 sets to find one set that was good. he had over $60.00 just in checking junk. the junk yard did not cover that . i get paid the same to check junk or good parts but it gets old playing that game . so you could be out some coin just playing this game. then they needed a mill job. then .valve job .new seals .re shim the stock springs and for 300. more the guy could of had new heads. new valves. new springs .locks .retainers. now if them heads he had needed valves or guilde work it would of been a draw or more then all new.they were for stock chevy truck. now add to drilling the heads for a intake bolts .setting the heads up for screw in studs or pinning the old studs and seting them up for new hi lift springs new valves. just alot of money and time in a weak casting?

I would take and blend Tech and Pats information into one. Do what Tech said and buy the new aftermarket Vortec heads as Pat mentioned. They have been around engines long enough to have dealt with all sorts of combinations of street and strip motors. Since this is a street motor, I dont believe in making them sound like a drag car and having a huge cam, aftermarket aluminum heads, huge stall, etc etc. Street motors do just fine with what Tech posted above...
Now one thing I have a question on if you dont mind me asking in your thread is, instead of better performance over a old style motor and head combo and a new vortec style head and intake combo, will the Vortec style get better fuel milage if both motors ran the same internals, compression, cam, rear end gear, tranny, etc? Reason I ask is because I am building this NON vortec 350 for my 63 Chevy II wagon that I am going to use as my DAILY driver so trying to get nice performance but mostly reliability and fuel milage out of it. I dont want to build this motor and then find out that I could have went with the Vortec motor for only $300-$400 more and had a much better performing motor with better fuel milage but then again I wont spend an extra $1000 to have a Vortec motor when I have a good one sitting here now.

Another option would be to purchase a new set of S/R Torquer heads. They do not have the new chamber design that the Vortecs have but they are sold new at a reasonable price.

The pile you have will probably run just fine. Not make the ultimate in power but with a light weight T Bucket it will just waste the MT's anyway. The Thumper would be my choice just to be cool sounding. I don't think you will need the 3000 converter with the light weight car but if you have it run it. I got one in my 41 Willys and love it.

It will be quick enough to put skid marks in your shorts as well as on the pavement as it is.