FastBurn vs. Vortec vs. 882's. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

grayw0lf · 08-08-2004, 11:34 PM

So here's the situation.
I have a pretty stock 77' 350 w/ 882 heads (1.94/1.50). Only the Holley 650 & Performer intake are not stock.

What kind of performance upgrades would I see by switching to a Vortec setup? How does the Vortec compare to the FastBurn heads?

*1972C10* · 08-09-2004, 01:45 AM

Fast burns are supposed to be a better head But the vortecs over the 882s would be a huge difference mainly due to the compression You would gain a good bit going from a 76cc head to a 64

stllookn · 08-09-2004, 02:04 AM

You could get as much as 30-50 hp increase but you should add a manifold, carb, cam and headers to realize as much as 100 hp over a stock GM crate 350. It is difficult to change just one component and reap maximum benefit. Go to chevyhighperformance.com and look up "The Goodwrench Quest" to see how they took a stock GM crate motor and turned it into a 400 hp street fighter just bolting on heads, carb, manifold, cam, and headers. There is a bit more to it than that but not much. They did some work on the Vortecs but you can order them directly from GM Performance with most of the mods.

882's are prone to cracking and were offered on engines that produced 150-180 hp!

grayw0lf · 08-09-2004, 11:44 AM

Are the FastBurn heads the same thing as LT1 heads?

03glide · 08-09-2004, 11:56 AM

chevyhighperformance.com is an auction site.
The magazine is chevyhiperformance.com took me a minute to see the difference

jimfulco · 08-10-2004, 12:21 AM

The Vortecs have a similar port & chamber design to the LT1, but are made for standard (non-LT1) blocks. The Fast Burns are similar to the Vortecs, but they have larger ports & are made of aluminum.

grayw0lf · 08-10-2004, 09:23 AM

Were the FastBurn heads ever on a production vehicle, or are they strictly GM Performance Parts? In other words, what are the odds of finding a set in a junkyard pile of heads?

Fred T · 08-10-2004, 10:20 AM

Can't answer on the fastburns, but I do know that to use the vortecs with a cam that has much lift you need to machine larger spring seats and replace the press-in studs with screw-ins. I was looking at all of this and ended up getting E-tec 170 heads and a Comp Cam XE268 cam. Don't have them in yet. I was thinking the Chevy Hi Performance website had an article compaing vortecs with fast burns.

jimfulco · 08-11-2004, 02:08 AM

Fast Burns are/were on some crate motors, but never in a production vehicle.

MrGoodpliers · 08-11-2004, 07:48 AM

Vortecs are definately the ticket for the budget minded builder. I've had the on a couple of vehicles (I'm cheap

), and they perform great. You can run them stock if you keep the cam reasonable. I've heard 2 numbers on max lift--.465 and .480 so do a little research. you will need a vortec-specific manifold and I recommend GM intake gaskets because I tried the FelPro and they leaked. The GM sealed up tight only torqued to 12-15 lbs. Best of all, you can score the heads for about $200.

grayw0lf · 08-11-2004, 09:25 AM

200 heads!!! Where?

stllookn · 08-11-2004, 10:42 AM

I have seen Vortecs on ebay for $200. The local junkyards will charge between $150 and $200 for used ones but they are getting pretty popular.

08-08-2004, 11:34 PM	#1
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	FastBurn vs. Vortec vs. 882's. So here's the situation. I have a pretty stock 77' 350 w/ 882 heads (1.94/1.50). Only the Holley 650 & Performer intake are not stock. What kind of performance upgrades would I see by switching to a Vortec setup? How does the Vortec compare to the FastBurn heads? __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!

08-09-2004, 02:04 AM	#3
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	You could get as much as 30-50 hp increase but you should add a manifold, carb, cam and headers to realize as much as 100 hp over a stock GM crate 350. It is difficult to change just one component and reap maximum benefit. Go to chevyhighperformance.com and look up "The Goodwrench Quest" to see how they took a stock GM crate motor and turned it into a 400 hp street fighter just bolting on heads, carb, manifold, cam, and headers. There is a bit more to it than that but not much. They did some work on the Vortecs but you can order them directly from GM Performance with most of the mods. 882's are prone to cracking and were offered on engines that produced 150-180 hp! __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary) Last edited by stllookn; 08-09-2004 at 02:07 AM.

08-09-2004, 11:44 AM	#4
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	Are the FastBurn heads the same thing as LT1 heads? __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!

08-10-2004, 09:23 AM	#7
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	Were the FastBurn heads ever on a production vehicle, or are they strictly GM Performance Parts? In other words, what are the odds of finding a set in a junkyard pile of heads? __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!

08-10-2004, 10:20 AM	#8
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Can't answer on the fastburns, but I do know that to use the vortecs with a cam that has much lift you need to machine larger spring seats and replace the press-in studs with screw-ins. I was looking at all of this and ended up getting E-tec 170 heads and a Comp Cam XE268 cam. Don't have them in yet. I was thinking the Chevy Hi Performance website had an article compaing vortecs with fast burns. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

08-09-2004, 01:45 AM	#2
1972C10 Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,686	Fast burns are supposed to be a better head But the vortecs over the 882s would be a huge difference mainly due to the compression You would gain a good bit going from a 76cc head to a 64

08-09-2004, 11:56 AM	#5
03glide Sell it before it's finished Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 630	chevyhighperformance.com is an auction site. The magazine is chevyhiperformance.com took me a minute to see the difference

08-10-2004, 12:21 AM	#6
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	The Vortecs have a similar port & chamber design to the LT1, but are made for standard (non-LT1) blocks. The Fast Burns are similar to the Vortecs, but they have larger ports & are made of aluminum.

08-11-2004, 02:08 AM	#9
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	Fast Burns are/were on some crate motors, but never in a production vehicle.

08-11-2004, 07:48 AM	#10
MrGoodpliers Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, Georgia Posts: 704	Vortecs are definately the ticket for the budget minded builder. I've had the on a couple of vehicles (I'm cheap ), and they perform great. You can run them stock if you keep the cam reasonable. I've heard 2 numbers on max lift--.465 and .480 so do a little research. you will need a vortec-specific manifold and I recommend GM intake gaskets because I tried the FelPro and they leaked. The GM sealed up tight only torqued to 12-15 lbs. Best of all, you can score the heads for about $200. __________________ We made Oklahoma a little after 3, Randy & his brother Bob & my old GMC...

08-11-2004, 09:25 AM	#11
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	200 heads!!! Where? __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!

08-11-2004, 10:42 AM	#12
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	I have seen Vortecs on ebay for $200. The local junkyards will charge between $150 and $200 for used ones but they are getting pretty popular. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)



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