Vortec Heads & Block
 

I looked at some heads with casting#14102193. According to Mortec.com, these have 1.94" & 1.5" valves. And it shows that these were from '87-up. They were center bolt heads & the block had the provisions for the fuel pump, not sure about the camshaft. So is this a Vortec engine & heads???

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

They went to the vortec in 96. It is they same style bolt pattern for the valve covers but a little bit differnt casting.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

It may be a vortec engine but I doubt it. The vortec flavor had more of a multiport injection design. Not the old crappy throttle body injection. I might be wrong, this is only my opinion.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

vortec sbc blocks had plastic timing chain covers, and are roller cam motors.
vortec sbc heads have 4 bolts per head for the intake...... tbi engines, have 6 intake bolts per head for the intake with the center two "canted" they are not at the same angle as the other ones. just from what you are describing, it sounds like a tbi engine

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

The two center bolts were straight & not angled. I did not look at the timing cover. There is no intake on it. I'm thinking it was a TBI engine like everybody else is thinking. Maybe, I will give him a call tonight & have him verify the bolt holes per head....
Thanks everybody,
Chris

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

Some refer to what you have as early Vortec, I have one and they are a one piece rear main with non-roller cams. These are not the performers like the 96 and up Vortecs. Check out Carcraft.com they have a cylinder hear flow chart, you just look for your head and they give you the flowbench numbers as well as an opinion based on all the other heads tested.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

This is a late 80's early 90's tbi engine. Not Vortec. My two 88's have that very engine.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

Yeah, TBI, but some call it early Vortec. I have one from a Van. The heads are good, and the block is as good as any core, so build it, the heads can always stand work, but if I was you, I'd hold out for a "real" set of Vortecs. New they are $500, and if you buy used and have em done, it'll be close to $5 hundred, buy new!!

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

-193 is the "swirl-port" head, isn't it?

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

Thanks for the help everybody. I passed on them. I was pretty sure the Vortec heads started in '96 when GM finally went to MPFI on their trucks. Just wanted to make sure.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

Here is the casting number for the real vortec 350 heads 10239906 96-up. 1.94 and 1.50 valves 64 cc chambers 170 intake ports exc. exc. 8 intake bolt's not 12.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

the vortec is the chamber design. theres no such thing as an early vortec. the early heads were simply a centerbolt head for tbi injected trucks. definately nothing spectacular

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

You forgot the 062 castings, also L31 vortec's ;)

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

Ya I know I thought about that after I posted lol.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

I have a question....not to stir sh*t, but how come my 93 4.3l says Vortec on the window sticker. Is that when they started using the name or does it actually have something to do with the heads? It is a TBI motor.

Mike

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

the 4.3 vortec started earlier than the 5.7 vortec.

Re: Vortec Heads & Block
 

Ahh ok. Thanks.

Mike