gen v vortec head swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

oldratguy · 09-30-2014, 04:07 PM

gotta '94 C3500 dually -454 -read where the '97 up 454 vortec heads will bump compression to close to 9:1 and flow somewhat better than the peanuts. I tow a 5 ton 5th wheel camper with this. I have a set of vortec
heads. But what's the go around for the EGR as the vortec heads do not have
the heat riser ports to the EGR? Is a PROM egr delete reprogram the only
solution? (I'm retaining the TBI)

stock 454
edelbrock shorty headers
edelbrock performer cam kit
TBIChips Towmaster memcal.

BigBlocksRule · 10-01-2014, 08:15 AM

The Vortecs didn't draw EGR from the intake, it came from the driver's side exhaust manifold through a flex pipe. I don't know if it's possible to plumb it in or if you're simply going to have to delete it. I decided to side-step the issue and found a pair of 702 closed chamber heads for mine.

oldratguy · 10-01-2014, 04:43 PM

My plan would be to use the vortec heads in conjunction with edelbrocks
454 TBI performer manifold, but need to get exhaust gases to the egr runners in the intake. The other issue is the TBI performer is cast for the pre-
1991 EGR valve-not the linear EGR on the 91-95 stock intake so both the EGR position on the manifold is different, as is the shape of the EGR port opening.
I can fix that by fabricating my own EGR adaptor, but still stumped on the best way to get the gases to the EGR valve. I have thought ,as you mentioned, to pipe the gas from an exhaust header runner via drilling a hole in one of the runners, welding on a threaded fitting and running a fabricated EGR tube up over the valve cover to another fabricated connection made to the Edelbrock TBI manifold. But nervous over the prospect of winding up trashing both the header and a manifold (both not cheap to replace) Man
I miss the old days when just about anything could be bolted onto the top
end of a small or big block chevy !!! This '94 C3500 dually only has 61000
original miles, never driven/seen snow but like most 454's of this era are
lacking the pulling power they used to have.

oldratguy · 10-01-2014, 04:50 PM

My plan would be to use the vortec heads in conjunction with edelbrocks
454 TBI performer manifold, but need to get exhaust gases to the egr runners in the intake. The other issue is the TBI performer is cast for the pre-
1991 EGR valve-not the linear EGR on the 91-95 stock intake so both the EGR position on the manifold is different, as is the shape of the EGR port opening.
I can fix that by fabricating my own EGR adaptor, but still stumped on the best way to get the gases to the EGR valve. I have thought ,as you mentioned, to pipe the gas from an exhaust header runner via drilling a hole in one of the runners, welding on a threaded fitting and running a fabricated EGR tube up over the valve cover to another fabricated connection made to the Edelbrock TBI manifold. But nervous over the prospect of winding up trashing both the header and a manifold (both not cheap to replace) Man
I miss the old days when just about anything could be bolted onto the top
end of a small or big block chevy !!! This '94 C3500 dually only has 61000
original miles, never driven/seen snow but like most 454's of this era is
lacking the pulling power they used to have.

BigBlocksRule · 10-01-2014, 07:20 PM

I wouldn't use the intake - it's peanut port, the L29 Vortec heads are true ovals, that intake will be a choke. Head to the 454Ss website, those guys have done quite a bit with the factory TBI system.

http://forum.454ss.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl

They'll recommend using a single plane intake with an adapter. Since there's no carb signal to worry about and the injector automatically sets fuel, you won't have the typical single plane carb problems. I have an 86 that I'm going to convert to TBI to get reliability and the ability to run the 4L80E, that's the way I'm going to do it. Unless you won't be able to pass emissions (I don't have to worry about it, I'm in the middle of nowhere), that would be the way to go. If it's a requirement, they may have a solution. Somebody may have a TBI adapter plate that takes care of it.

09-30-2014, 04:07 PM	#1
oldratguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Troy New York Posts: 3	gen v vortec head swap gotta '94 C3500 dually -454 -read where the '97 up 454 vortec heads will bump compression to close to 9:1 and flow somewhat better than the peanuts. I tow a 5 ton 5th wheel camper with this. I have a set of vortec heads. But what's the go around for the EGR as the vortec heads do not have the heat riser ports to the EGR? Is a PROM egr delete reprogram the only solution? (I'm retaining the TBI) stock 454 edelbrock shorty headers edelbrock performer cam kit TBIChips Towmaster memcal.

10-01-2014, 08:15 AM	#2
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: gen v vortec head swap The Vortecs didn't draw EGR from the intake, it came from the driver's side exhaust manifold through a flex pipe. I don't know if it's possible to plumb it in or if you're simply going to have to delete it. I decided to side-step the issue and found a pair of 702 closed chamber heads for mine.

10-01-2014, 04:43 PM	#3
oldratguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Troy New York Posts: 3	Re: gen v vortec head swap My plan would be to use the vortec heads in conjunction with edelbrocks 454 TBI performer manifold, but need to get exhaust gases to the egr runners in the intake. The other issue is the TBI performer is cast for the pre- 1991 EGR valve-not the linear EGR on the 91-95 stock intake so both the EGR position on the manifold is different, as is the shape of the EGR port opening. I can fix that by fabricating my own EGR adaptor, but still stumped on the best way to get the gases to the EGR valve. I have thought ,as you mentioned, to pipe the gas from an exhaust header runner via drilling a hole in one of the runners, welding on a threaded fitting and running a fabricated EGR tube up over the valve cover to another fabricated connection made to the Edelbrock TBI manifold. But nervous over the prospect of winding up trashing both the header and a manifold (both not cheap to replace) Man I miss the old days when just about anything could be bolted onto the top end of a small or big block chevy !!! This '94 C3500 dually only has 61000 original miles, never driven/seen snow but like most 454's of this era are lacking the pulling power they used to have.

10-01-2014, 04:50 PM	#4
oldratguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Troy New York Posts: 3	Re: gen v vortec head swap My plan would be to use the vortec heads in conjunction with edelbrocks 454 TBI performer manifold, but need to get exhaust gases to the egr runners in the intake. The other issue is the TBI performer is cast for the pre- 1991 EGR valve-not the linear EGR on the 91-95 stock intake so both the EGR position on the manifold is different, as is the shape of the EGR port opening. I can fix that by fabricating my own EGR adaptor, but still stumped on the best way to get the gases to the EGR valve. I have thought ,as you mentioned, to pipe the gas from an exhaust header runner via drilling a hole in one of the runners, welding on a threaded fitting and running a fabricated EGR tube up over the valve cover to another fabricated connection made to the Edelbrock TBI manifold. But nervous over the prospect of winding up trashing both the header and a manifold (both not cheap to replace) Man I miss the old days when just about anything could be bolted onto the top end of a small or big block chevy !!! This '94 C3500 dually only has 61000 original miles, never driven/seen snow but like most 454's of this era is lacking the pulling power they used to have. Last edited by oldratguy; 10-01-2014 at 04:53 PM. Reason: duplicated

10-01-2014, 07:20 PM	#5
BigBlocksRule Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 2,047	Re: gen v vortec head swap I wouldn't use the intake - it's peanut port, the L29 Vortec heads are true ovals, that intake will be a choke. Head to the 454Ss website, those guys have done quite a bit with the factory TBI system. http://forum.454ss.com/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl They'll recommend using a single plane intake with an adapter. Since there's no carb signal to worry about and the injector automatically sets fuel, you won't have the typical single plane carb problems. I have an 86 that I'm going to convert to TBI to get reliability and the ability to run the 4L80E, that's the way I'm going to do it. Unless you won't be able to pass emissions (I don't have to worry about it, I'm in the middle of nowhere), that would be the way to go. If it's a requirement, they may have a solution. Somebody may have a TBI adapter plate that takes care of it.



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