New heads for the 87 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Grey 87 · 11-21-2003, 09:13 PM

I found some heads for the 87. It is a 350/TBI. The casting numbers on the heads are GM14102193. Can anyone confirm for me that these are vortecs and they will indeed fit on my truck?
Thanks!

cgrossl · 11-21-2003, 10:38 PM

I don't think that they are Vortecs. I believe that Vortecs usually have 906 as the last three digits of the casting number, but I could be wrong. www.mortec.com says that your heads are 1987-up 305 or 350 heads with 1.94" intake valves and 1.50" exhaust valves. If I'm not mistaken, Vortec heads came out in 96. But like I said, I could be wrong.

Grey 87 · 11-21-2003, 10:43 PM

Thanks man, all the info I had was from mortec.

If they are vortec, don't I need to change my intake? The guy said at the shop that they are Vortec, but that will fit my truck and my intake, I'm just trying to find out for sure before I try to put them on. I just pulled off my hood and I'm starting to tear into it.

bpmcgee · 11-21-2003, 10:48 PM

If you have the heads to hand, the easiest way to distinguish is to check the intake bolt pattern. Vortecs have a very distinctive pattern -- 4 bolts per head. Normal centerbolt heads will have 6 bolts per head.

Also, Vortec heads do NOT fit standard intakes.

Lastly, cgrossl is 1/2 right. There are two casting numbers for Vortec heads -- 10239906 and 12558062. For all the details, check this article . Note that they later retracted the bad things they said about the 906 heads.

Brian

Grey 87 · 11-21-2003, 11:16 PM

Thanks bpmcgee! That's exactly the information I have been looking for. I have 6 holes per side on these heads for the intake so they are not Vortec.

Should I be upset at this guy and take them back or just bolt them on? The intake ports are the same size as the gaskets, they are rebuilt not new, and I paid $360 for them $200 of which I will get back when I take them my cores.

jimfulco · 11-22-2003, 12:33 AM

193=swirl-port heads. Good for fuel economy but not much for performance.

*racedvl* · 11-22-2003, 12:55 AM

I have some Vortecs for sale.

And they are the real deal!!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=77768

toytruck · 11-22-2003, 01:56 AM

I think $160 is a heck of a deal for fresh set of heads.

bpmcgee · 11-22-2003, 02:29 AM

Grey,

Toytruck is right, that's a good price for any head ready to run. It sounds like the heads that you found would be the centerbolt equivalent to the venerable 882 head -- a common reliable head, but not much to write home about.

I guess it depends on how much you really want Vortec heads. Personally they were what I really wanted because of their combination of low end torque and economy. I ended up paying $232 each for Pro Topline aftermarket Vortec heads. Those are already machined and have to only be set up and installed.

In either case, good luck!

Brian

P.S. What's so special about your existing heads that he's willing to give you a $200 core refund? That's a bit high, I would think.

B

Grey 87 · 11-22-2003, 04:06 AM

A little performance gain would be nice but I'm not going very far out of my way to get it. I can't afford to buy a new intake right now. I really have no complaints about the power I already have it being a standard and all.

The heads came with valves and springs but I need to get the rocker arms or reuse the ones I have. The guy told me the core price was so high because alot of the cores returned are not rebuildable.

Well all the crap is off the top, and my intake is off. I got one head off and it was full of some really nasty thick sludge. Guess it's time to go to bed it's almost 1 AM here. I'll try to finish her off tomorrow.

Thanks for the info on the heads and letting me know I got a good price for them.

11-21-2003, 09:13 PM	#1
Grey 87 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 23	New heads for the 87 I found some heads for the 87. It is a 350/TBI. The casting numbers on the heads are GM14102193. Can anyone confirm for me that these are vortecs and they will indeed fit on my truck? Thanks! __________________ 87 SWB Silverado 84 LWB Custom Deluxe

11-21-2003, 10:43 PM	#3
Grey 87 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 23	Thanks man, all the info I had was from mortec. If they are vortec, don't I need to change my intake? The guy said at the shop that they are Vortec, but that will fit my truck and my intake, I'm just trying to find out for sure before I try to put them on. I just pulled off my hood and I'm starting to tear into it. __________________ 87 SWB Silverado 84 LWB Custom Deluxe

11-21-2003, 11:16 PM	#5
Grey 87 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 23	Thanks bpmcgee! That's exactly the information I have been looking for. I have 6 holes per side on these heads for the intake so they are not Vortec. Should I be upset at this guy and take them back or just bolt them on? The intake ports are the same size as the gaskets, they are rebuilt not new, and I paid $360 for them $200 of which I will get back when I take them my cores. __________________ 87 SWB Silverado 84 LWB Custom Deluxe

11-22-2003, 01:56 AM	#8
toytruck 5-7 dropped 87 CC Dually Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: bay city mi Posts: 326	I think $160 is a heck of a deal for fresh set of heads. __________________ I rather be in my 77 Sanger Picklefork Jet Hydro!

11-22-2003, 04:06 AM	#10
Grey 87 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 23	A little performance gain would be nice but I'm not going very far out of my way to get it. I can't afford to buy a new intake right now. I really have no complaints about the power I already have it being a standard and all. The heads came with valves and springs but I need to get the rocker arms or reuse the ones I have. The guy told me the core price was so high because alot of the cores returned are not rebuildable. Well all the crap is off the top, and my intake is off. I got one head off and it was full of some really nasty thick sludge. Guess it's time to go to bed it's almost 1 AM here. I'll try to finish her off tomorrow. Thanks for the info on the heads and letting me know I got a good price for them. __________________ 87 SWB Silverado 84 LWB Custom Deluxe

11-21-2003, 10:38 PM	#2
cgrossl Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 151	I don't think that they are Vortecs. I believe that Vortecs usually have 906 as the last three digits of the casting number, but I could be wrong. www.mortec.com says that your heads are 1987-up 305 or 350 heads with 1.94" intake valves and 1.50" exhaust valves. If I'm not mistaken, Vortec heads came out in 96. But like I said, I could be wrong.

11-21-2003, 10:48 PM	#4
bpmcgee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 2,181	If you have the heads to hand, the easiest way to distinguish is to check the intake bolt pattern. Vortecs have a very distinctive pattern -- 4 bolts per head. Normal centerbolt heads will have 6 bolts per head. Also, Vortec heads do NOT fit standard intakes. Lastly, cgrossl is 1/2 right. There are two casting numbers for Vortec heads -- 10239906 and 12558062. For all the details, check this article . Note that they later retracted the bad things they said about the 906 heads. Brian

11-22-2003, 12:33 AM	#6
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	193=swirl-port heads. Good for fuel economy but not much for performance.

11-22-2003, 12:55 AM	#7
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	I have some Vortecs for sale. And they are the real deal!! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...threadid=77768

11-22-2003, 02:29 AM	#9
bpmcgee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 2,181	Grey, Toytruck is right, that's a good price for any head ready to run. It sounds like the heads that you found would be the centerbolt equivalent to the venerable 882 head -- a common reliable head, but not much to write home about. I guess it depends on how much you really want Vortec heads. Personally they were what I really wanted because of their combination of low end torque and economy. I ended up paying $232 each for Pro Topline aftermarket Vortec heads. Those are already machined and have to only be set up and installed. In either case, good luck! Brian P.S. What's so special about your existing heads that he's willing to give you a $200 core refund? That's a bit high, I would think. B



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.