Best stock head and Aftermarket cam combo
- Thread starter Jimmy V
- Start date
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firebane
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Vortex .. If we could harness that power in a truck!
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1low4x4
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Vortex .. If we could harness that power in a truck!
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voice texting types what it wants. Do you guys all have jobs?
hey to the original poster, give me a while and I will post screenshots of all the part numbers I used on my vortec head swap.intake gaskets and bolts, head gaskets and bolts, intake, springs xcetera
rich weyand
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If it's been recently rebuilt, and the Vortec heads start adding up to more than you want to do for a hold-me-over-I'm-gonna-build-a-new-engine-up-later-anyway, you might just replace the cam. 12-300-4 is what I have, with same as you on everything else (carb, pipes, etc.). 275 hp, 422 lbft. Runs out of steam about 4600. The 12-235-2 will give you 290 hp, 415 lbft, and wind to 5200. The 12-208-2 will give you 307 hp and 403 lbft, and wind to 5750.
Download the Camquest software and play around. Setup down the left side is:
Usage [2, 3, 4 or 5]
Hydraulic
4500 lb vehicle weight
Carbs
Chevy 350
2-valve, wedge, low/perf/stock ports, valves
1.940 in
1.500 in
8.50
Dual plane high flow
600 cfm
None
Gasoline
Large tube headers, mufflers without cats
When you run simulations, make sure you give due deference to the torque curve from 1500 rpm to 3500 rpm. Wind-up horsepower is nice, but you have to get the truck moving first.
Download the Camquest software and play around. Setup down the left side is:
Usage [2, 3, 4 or 5]
Hydraulic
4500 lb vehicle weight
Carbs
Chevy 350
2-valve, wedge, low/perf/stock ports, valves
1.940 in
1.500 in
8.50
Dual plane high flow
600 cfm
None
Gasoline
Large tube headers, mufflers without cats
When you run simulations, make sure you give due deference to the torque curve from 1500 rpm to 3500 rpm. Wind-up horsepower is nice, but you have to get the truck moving first.
Joe383
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The springs for that comp cam will not fit the heads. I built a vortec motor. It has about 10 miles on it. The inside of the valve spring boss is .9" so unless the cam can be used with the stock springs its not cheep to machine and swap springs. Might as well go with a different head. I would go with the summit heads with the 170cc chambers. The a copy of the old camel hump heads. There no dart head but are a cheep upgrade, will raise compression a little and make more power than your stock head for cheaper than any other new head swap on the market. but if it was me and I just wanted 300 HP I would just do a cam swap. Something like the comp high energy 268 cam. If you do a head swap I would do the same cam with the summit heads or the XE 262 with the vortecs if you go that rout. I don't know why every one dives on these vortecs. There great heads but I would have rather went with a set of darts, edelbrocks or trick flow and after the price I could have.
MadOgre
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Most guys don't pay $600 for a set of Vortecs. usually its $75 for a set from the wreckers. That's where they got there luster from on top of being great factory heads.
If you could swap a set of Vortec heads on for less then $150 and get an immediate 50-100 HP wouldn't you do it?
TheGreenBarron
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I just finished a vortec head swap. Picked the heads at the bone yard for 100 bucks added some behive gm springs and comp retainers. The springs and retainers went on with no machine work. I did have the machine shop go through them and added scewin rockers. I went with a hydraulic roller cam 206/212 @50 with 480/487 lift and it works nicely and runs strong. I got the edelrock 2116 with my stock q-jet and some valve covers off a tbi engine. The swap is worth it in my opinion
Joe383
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I tried the LT4 springs too, I still have them in a box they were .880 on the inside diameter and still did not fit. I might have been able to put them on if I heated them or something. My voetecs are the 906 castings. That is what the GM L31 crate motor comes with. Are yours the 062 castings? I would love to be able to get an extra set if the springs would just drop in. Like I said though my valve guide boss was .9" inside. My comp cams beehive springs were like .840" if I remember. If you can get them to fit the retainers are thinner and allow for more lift than a normal retainer. Comp cams told me about .525 lift with there springs, retainers and stock heads with out machine work. I had the screw in studs put in too which added to the cost to the heads. I have not found a set for sale for less then $200 were I live. I could see about 20-30 HP but I am doubting there good for much over that.
