head questions

[rmayer]

Hi, im looking to get some more power out of my 350. the motor is out of a 75 camaro. it has an edelbrock performer cam (not installed yet) performer intake, performer carb, long tube headers and 3" exhaust. Next, i want to get some heads for it. Im looking for something cheap and something that will not kill gas mileage. Right now, i have these heads:
333882.....74-80...350/400......76cc chambers

What would you recommend that is relatively cheap and wont kill gas mileage?

[cj8scrambld]

Vortecs.....although they are 64cc heads your comp will go up which could be a good thing...pump gas? Replace the springs with a set of Z28 springs or Crane "no machining needed" springs.....IIRC correctly

[rmayer]

Ok, thanks. anything besides vortecs? I heard they are a lot of work, you have to change the intake, and cam etc...

[cj8scrambld]

You do need to change the intake....I believe you can have the earlier intake redrilled to the Vortec pattern>>>I have had a few 's so don't qoute me on that......the cam should be fine. They don't like to much valve lift but a mild cam "should" be fine. So really, not too much work on a relative stock application...That Edel Performer cam should be fine with Vortecs th way they come. Summit has a set of modded Vortecs for a little more $...screw in studs and higher lift accepting springs.

As far as other heads...you could go World Products SR torquers, 305 Torquers (?)58cc (again what fuel do you plan to run) because the 305's will give you much higher comp ratios, and RHS has a pretty decent line as well. I am talking iron heads as most alum. heads will run around a $1000 all said and done.

[rmayer]

I run pump gas, mainly 87 octane. will 305 heads give me more low end? h

[rockhog]

Like CJ8 said...ditch the 882's and go Vortec's. Sell you old performer and get a new performer Vortec. Best heads out there for the buck.

[Snowbird13]

Originally Posted by rmayer

I run pump gas, mainly 87 octane. will 305 heads give me more low end? h

All the 305 heads will give you is higher compression. I wouldn't waste your time. They don't flow very well.

[rmayer]

OK, thanks. SO if i can find some take off vortec heads, they will bolt right on with a performer vortec intake? How big of a difference will it be compared to my motor now, all it has is an intake, and headers. If i put in the performer cam, intake, and vortec heads, how big of a difference will it make? about how much power will i have? will my headers i have now still work? Also, what will these heads do to my gas mileage?
Thanks

[weaselzz]

Originally Posted by rmayer

OK, thanks. SO if i can find some take off vortec heads, they will bolt right on with a performer vortec intake? How big of a difference will it be compared to my motor now, all it has is an intake, and headers. If i put in the performer cam, intake, and vortec heads, how big of a difference will it make? about how much power will i have? will my headers i have now still work? Also, what will these heads do to my gas mileage?
Thanks

they will bolt to the performer vortec intake and if you change the springs, then those heads will work great. They will support 425hp with what they flow. The cam and bolt ons will not outdo the heads.

the heads will increase the comp ratio and by being more efficient then the old bath tubs, you will see better gas milage.

[rockhog]

If you keep the cam's lift under 450 you will be fine. Something like the 252 or 260 comp wil be fine.

[brownsmetal]

get on ebay motors, check out white performance aluminum sbc heads. made by patriot 202 valves 194 ports and 64 cc combustion chambers. cnc bowl blended. they come with springs screw in rocker studs, stainless undercut swirl polished valves, 5 angle valve job. these things are sick. i just put a set on my 355 and they work unbelievable. they are also drilled for vortech and old style manifolds and work with early and centerbolt valve covers. i think they cost me about 800 bucks delivered. votechs work good but not comparable to these. this is what all you guy need!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rmayer]

Ok, thanks. For now, i am going to get a set of vortecs, and put them on stock. I am going to get a vortec performer intake also. the cam lift for the performer cam is .280 and .295. Will this work with the heads? Also, whats a good price for a used set of vortec heads?

[odin544]

vortecs arent 800$ though. and for the money they dont beat a vortec. and if your gonna spend 800 why not buck up and get some real good heads. like some AFR's

that cam should be fine for those heads. you should be able to pick up some used vortec heads for 200-400$

[rmayer]

Ok, thanks. SO all i will need are heads and valve covers, and the performer vortec intake. Correct?

Anybody know how much HP and TQ the cam, heads intake and headers will give me? Will i be around 300?

[weaselzz]

that cam wont work with the heads unless you have machined them for bigger springs or are using the drop in crane.

the stock springs are only good to .425 lift or so.

[rmayer]

Oh really, i thought it was around .450 lift? When they say lift, what lift are they talking about?

[rmayer]

Also, are there any bolt on heads that chevy had that will give me a noticable power gain over the 882s, that would not require all the modifications the vortecs do?

[senatorfrisky]

http://oldholden.com/possible/index....asting_Numbers


chevy heads... that AREN'T vortecs.... for performance... nobody has mentioned....


F U E L I E S ! ! !


they won't require all the work that the vortech's will... but they will probably cost the same

[odin544]

those were a good head in there time. and if your runnin in a stock class then they are more desirable. but not near the performance of a vortec. out of the box anyways

[rmayer]

Ok, thanks. How much power would the fuelies give me? Do i need to do any mods to them?

[senatorfrisky]

ok.... i can sense that you want someone to tell you how many horsepower you are going to get with some combination of parts.

there is no way to answer that question.
if you are trying to figure out horsepower and torque numbers on a forum... it's not really going to work. the only way you will figure this stuff out in real life is to A) start building engines with different components. B) buy some ridiculously expensive out-of-the-box performance stuff


no one is going to be able to give you a HP estimate of bolting some 35 year old bowtie heads to your tired-ass old belly button
... or.... of bolting a new vortec top end on...

you just have to start buidling this stuff. there's no other way to learn

[odin544]

i agree. there are so many variables that it would be impossible to say. if your looking to make power, it takes money, or knowledge. you better stick with the money.

[rmayer]

Well, as for it being a tired ass old motor, its only got 500 miles on it, and as for me not having knowledge of it, it must have taken some knowledge to build it . anyway, i think im going to try some fuelies and my camshaft, im not looking for ridiculous power, just a little more get up and go.

[cj8scrambld]

I would highly suggest the Vortecs over 25 year old technology like was suggested. The Vortecs have been said to offer 30HP over the TBI heads they replaced (and probably any iron GM head) but.....HP aside, they are a truck head and they offer TQ advantages by breathing very well at low valve lifts....that is what they were designed to do and the HP gained is just a bonus IMO. I have a set of Vortecs on my 383 and I'm running a Comp Cams with lifts of I: .448 and E: .463 with no problems. I know the lift "limitations" that have been mentioned are close but they do vary. I have heard .450 to .480 is all the lift stock springs will allow. For piece of mind I would change the springs to the "No Machining required" springs from Crane, like I had mentioned above. The Vortecs are a very decent head...FOR THE MONEY. Despite the minor chnages that need to be made, you'll be hard pressed to find a set of new complete heads that will perform as well out of the box.

Although, maybe a set of iron L98's (Camaro TPI heads) would do you well......bolt on....they do have the '86 up intake pattern...are 64cc too. Also, the TBI heads (swirl ports) are not that bad of a head. With some porting/clean up they can be a pretty good sleeper head for the under 4000 rpm motors in which TQ is the main goal.

You never actually told us what your useage was going to be............?

[rmayer]

The truck is an 86 k10 stepside, and its my daily driver on 38s. I use it for DD and mud.