vortec heads. headers or ram horns?

[HEISEL]

so I got a 1998 vortec 350 to swap into my 72 swb 4x4. I still have the ramhorns and i was going to use them but not sure anymore. Im starting to think that i should at least get vortec manifolds. I haven't looked into headers to much but i'm not sure about them because of reliability issues with gaskets. i guess I could use coper gaskets. This truck is going to get a lot of off-road time. I don't pretend that this truck is a hotrod or a race car its a truck its going to spend a lot of time at low rpm's any help would be a lot of help. thanks fellas.

[Zoomad75]

Stick with the manifolds then. Headers on an off road truck that isn't going to be pulling a sled or mudding or sand drags is overkill. I've got them on my K5 and they are a royal pain in the arse. The collectors leak, the bolts in the heads loosen up and then leak. They make spark plug changing a chore too. I can't wait until I get the 5.3 together and go back to manifolds.

I get reminded of this fact every time we work on my truck over at DirtyLarry's place too. He really hates them.

[HEISEL]

You know that's what I was thinking. I'm going to look at the vortec manafolds and see if I'll have Clearence issues. Thanks for the advice.
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[donut]

AFAIK, the bolt patterns are the same for the Vortec exhaust and older ones. The headers off of my old "882's" bolted up to the Vortecs no prob.

If I did it again, I'd be using manifolds.

[Mike C]

Manifolds. Corvette 2 1/2" outlet. Get 'em for $59 each from Speedway Motors.

[HEISEL]

What year vet? Well turns out picking the right manafold is harder than getting headers. It's a 100% stock build on this moter except for a edelbrock preformer intake and it will have dule exhaust. O and it's getting a Howells efi kit. I wander if I should look into lt1 manafolds or something. I think they are 2 1/2. More research I guess. Thanks for the help fellas.
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[Zoomad75]

I'd just go with stock vortec manifolds. Just about any stock small block truck manifold should fit from a 73-87 as the frames are pretty close in shape there. You might check with DirtyLarry here as he dropped a complete tbi 350 from a van into a 71 2wd 3/4 ton and he went with the stock manifolds from the van. I just can't remember exactly what he did, but he'd know.

[Mike C]

Clutch linkage will be an issue with a rear dump manifold on a manual trans application. The reproduction manifolds are for '63-'68 cars. '69 and newer didn't have the generator boss cast in them. I used two drivers side manifolds and cut the bosses off of both. That was the cheapest way to do it at the time. Now you can buy both manifolds same price, which is less than I paid 12 years ago.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Dorman...olds,9133.html

[jaros44sr]

Ok, old thread, but haven't read an answer yet. As some of you may have read the 2 1/2" rams horn manifolds will bolt up, but the ports don't line up. What are my opshins, gasket match the heads, seems like a lot of cast iron will have to be removed....

Any advice?

[$20071k10]

flowtech makes 2 1/2" ramhorns and they look a lot better than the vet's

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by $20071k10

flowtech makes 2 1/2" ramhorns and they look a lot better than the vet's

Brian, I agree they do look nice, I'll call tomorrow and see if they work for vortex heads.... thank you

[jaros44sr]

Called flotech, nope won't work. He called Sanderson, said maybe. Called Sanderson they said nope, problem is center dump plug clearance.

Still on the hunt for a solution, wonder if I could make a transitional spacer 1/2" aluminum

[Mudder]

I have ran headers with my vortecs since they started making them. I don't get leaks and my bolts stay tight. A ole street racer buddy told me the trick a long time ago. When the headers are welded it warps the flange that bolts to the head. Remove the headers and cut through the flange on each side of the two center tubes. Get you some stock manifold gaskets (metal) and forget about em.

[kwmech]

What is an opshin?



Never mind..... option.... I get it

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by kwmech

What is an opshin?



Never mind..... option.... I get it

[huero]

The issue if I remember correctly is that the spark plug location is different on Vortec heads. Great for power but will put spark plugs 3, 4, 5, and 6 close to the ram horn manifold as stated above. So close that I believe you'll be burning up spark plug wires.