vortec head question? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

meyer4589 · 12-19-2009, 04:05 PM

Ok I need your guys opinion. Would I be better off buying a new set of vortec heads off of summit or jegs, or going to a local junk yard and pulling a set and have them rebuilt?

**mr48chev** · 12-19-2009, 04:15 PM

New as you will end up spending half the new price on a good valve job.

Check prices though. Check with these guys http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Cyli...ads/Vortec.cfm to see what one of the best straight from the performance dealership prices is. They also have the correct parts numbers so you can walk into your Chevrolet dealers parts counter and see what they will sell them for. They are a good source for prices on factory GM parts and they will ship anywhere and have the stuff in stock. Their dealership is about 50 miles past the end of the world sign but they sell a lot of parts.
Sometimes they beat Summit and sometimes Summit beats them so check prices.

jim zag · 12-19-2009, 04:52 PM

New, it is not uncommon for used ones to be cracked.

**clay68c10** · 12-19-2009, 07:07 PM

New. They are prone to cracking if they've been overheated. Good chance something in the bone yard would have gotten hot and that's why it's there.

Average Joe · 12-19-2009, 11:57 PM

Have you considered RHS castings? I believe they are much stronger than OEM. If you are stuck on GM castings you might want to look at what Scoggin Dickey offers. If memory serves they offer a pair of Vortec heads drilled to accept an early style manifold as well as later style. They also machine down the guides and have stiffer springs for .490 lift. Seems like they may also install screw in studs although I may be mistaken.

**americanmusc1e** · 12-20-2009, 12:18 AM

I bought mine from a wrecking yard and they ended up costing me more by the time I was done at the machine shop.............

67-C10 · 12-20-2009, 12:28 AM

Average Joe is right Scoggin Dickey does have some nice ones. If i believe right they also make another set with even smaller combustion chambers get the compression up. Also you got to look at what your doing with the rest of the engine. see here (http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...458/index.html)for a writeup on a set. for 1.6 rockers you have to drill out the push rod hole more and also for anything over .420 lift you need to machine down the spring seat and guide boss to get more. Scoggin Dikey sells a set that this is all done. They sell an intake as well as edelbrock and a few others to bolt to the heads not really an issue. I do hear stock 1.94 heads to these are about 40hp gain. Theres plenty of articles out there just google it up.

67ss&99ss · 12-20-2009, 12:40 AM

Buy a new set for sure. I would also have a set of screw in studs installed so you don't have to run those self aligning rockers. My uncle has a set on a 9.5:1 350 with a XE268 hydraulic flat tappet cam, performer intake, 670 street avenger and it has a ton of torque from 1500-5000 rpm. Its a perfect combo for a truck.

420am · 12-20-2009, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67ss&99ss

Buy a new set for sure. I would also have a set of screw in studs installed so you don't have to run those self aligning rockers. My uncle has a set on a 9.5:1 350 with a XE268 hydraulic flat tappet cam, performer intake, 670 street avenger and it has a ton of torque from 1500-5000 rpm. Its a perfect combo for a truck.

If you run the self-aligning rockers it's a sure fire way to make sure that they're not too wide for the centerbolt valve cover studs. Comp Cams makes a nice set.

420am · 12-20-2009, 02:55 AM

or be patient, take a gamble and watch craigslist.. I bought a set of used vortecs that had been decked, had new seals and new springs for $450. They were off of a boat and look brand new for the most part.

To answer your question though.. buy the new ones if they're in your budget. I'm gambling on my entire build. lol. Used heads, cam, lifters. lol

12-19-2009, 04:05 PM	#1
meyer4589 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 64	vortec head question? Ok I need your guys opinion. Would I be better off buying a new set of vortec heads off of summit or jegs, or going to a local junk yard and pulling a set and have them rebuilt?

12-19-2009, 04:15 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,639	Re: vortec head question? New as you will end up spending half the new price on a good valve job. Check prices though. Check with these guys http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Cyli...ads/Vortec.cfm to see what one of the best straight from the performance dealership prices is. They also have the correct parts numbers so you can walk into your Chevrolet dealers parts counter and see what they will sell them for. They are a good source for prices on factory GM parts and they will ship anywhere and have the stuff in stock. Their dealership is about 50 miles past the end of the world sign but they sell a lot of parts. Sometimes they beat Summit and sometimes Summit beats them so check prices.

12-19-2009, 04:52 PM	#3
jim zag ENGINE BUILDER Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Shortsville n.y. Posts: 344	Re: vortec head question? New, it is not uncommon for used ones to be cracked. __________________ JIM ZAG

12-19-2009, 07:07 PM	#4
clay68c10 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Centennial, CO Posts: 2,979	Re: vortec head question? New. They are prone to cracking if they've been overheated. Good chance something in the bone yard would have gotten hot and that's why it's there. __________________ ClusterTruck: 68 C10 Bought in 89, wrecked in 03. Slow low $ rebuild started '17. 6.0 & TKO http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=788602 93 K1500 Short Step, 350, NV4500, EBL flash ECU. Vortec heads & roller cam someday... 05 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. 3” lift & 6-speed 02 E320 the insurance total “free car” 13 Tahoe LTZ

12-19-2009, 11:57 PM	#5
Average Joe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 1,352	Re: vortec head question? Have you considered RHS castings? I believe they are much stronger than OEM. If you are stuck on GM castings you might want to look at what Scoggin Dickey offers. If memory serves they offer a pair of Vortec heads drilled to accept an early style manifold as well as later style. They also machine down the guides and have stiffer springs for .490 lift. Seems like they may also install screw in studs although I may be mistaken. __________________ 1967 C10 Suburban 454/TH400/3.07's An Average Joe and His 'Burb: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=775843

12-20-2009, 12:18 AM	#6
americanmusc1e Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,079	Re: vortec head question? I bought mine from a wrecking yard and they ended up costing me more by the time I was done at the machine shop............. __________________ -- Josh Instagram: @americanmusc1e OLD SKOOL-- 1970 C10. 454/Th400/3.07 posi Build Thread FARM TRUCK----1949 Chevrolet 3800 Power Wagon Hauler Build Thread 1999 4wd OBS Tahoe - daily. DM me if you can't see photos i posted

12-20-2009, 12:28 AM	#7
67-C10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Taunton, MA Posts: 224	Re: vortec head question? Average Joe is right Scoggin Dickey does have some nice ones. If i believe right they also make another set with even smaller combustion chambers get the compression up. Also you got to look at what your doing with the rest of the engine. see here (http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/ho...458/index.html)for a writeup on a set. for 1.6 rockers you have to drill out the push rod hole more and also for anything over .420 lift you need to machine down the spring seat and guide boss to get more. Scoggin Dikey sells a set that this is all done. They sell an intake as well as edelbrock and a few others to bolt to the heads not really an issue. I do hear stock 1.94 heads to these are about 40hp gain. Theres plenty of articles out there just google it up. __________________ 67 C10 2wd Stepside (to be fleetside), Factory AC truck, Big Back Window, just got a 6.0/6l90e to jam in it now..... Needed: paint and lots of it. and i'm sure lots more misc. parts. Project 67 short step Build Thread 01 Sierra Crew 6.0 2015 Ford F150 Work gave me truck i really wouldn't buy a ford. Last edited by 67-C10; 12-20-2009 at 12:31 AM.

12-20-2009, 12:40 AM	#8
67ss&99ss Andy Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, GA Posts: 224	Re: vortec head question? Buy a new set for sure. I would also have a set of screw in studs installed so you don't have to run those self aligning rockers. My uncle has a set on a 9.5:1 350 with a XE268 hydraulic flat tappet cam, performer intake, 670 street avenger and it has a ton of torque from 1500-5000 rpm. Its a perfect combo for a truck. __________________ 1967 Camaro SS 406\|522hp/514ft lbs\|M20 Muncie\|3.73s\|Posi 1969 CST/10 383\|Aisin AR5 5 speed 1972 K5 350\|Turbo 350 4x4 2005 Duramax 2500HD 4x4 Last edited by 67ss&99ss; 12-20-2009 at 12:42 AM.

12-20-2009, 02:55 AM	#10
420am Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 357	Re: vortec head question? or be patient, take a gamble and watch craigslist.. I bought a set of used vortecs that had been decked, had new seals and new springs for $450. They were off of a boat and look brand new for the most part. To answer your question though.. buy the new ones if they're in your budget. I'm gambling on my entire build. lol. Used heads, cam, lifters. lol __________________ 1972 Long Bed Cheyenne Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=285282 Waste my bandwidth and listen to some great tunes >> http://www.radioxenu.com (Live Shows with yours truly every Friday) Last edited by 420am; 12-20-2009 at 02:58 AM.



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