193 swirl port heads

grumpyvette · Aug 26, 2014

I got asked what swirl port heads are? well they are heads designed to maximize low rpm torque and provide a lean burn in the combustion chamber and in theory better mileage, the ports are an early attempt at what eventually evolved into the later VORTEC HEADS, the SWIRL PORT HEAD HAS A RAMP, IN the INTAKE PORT ROOF DESIGNED TO HELP MIX FUEL/AIR BETTER at LOW RPMS, most guys I know who have ported a set extensively report that even after extensive port work the barely reach flow levels or stock un-ported vortec heads....in short if you need a taxi ENGINE they may be a valid choice but for mid range and low rpm performance (2000rpm-4500rpm ) in almost every dyno test Ive seen the later vortec head design out performs the swirl port heads even at lower rpms, Id,look ALMOST ANYPLACE ELSE, and the first thing that comes to mind is the vortec heads that replaced them, as an all around more effective choice
http://www.2quicknovas.com/vortecheads.html

Peak numbers, stock heads:193 and 191 swirl port heads have different combustion chamber volumes but similar small valves and restrictive flow
178 cfm intake
146 cfm exhaust

those are PATHETICLY RESTRICTIVE FLOW NUMBERS

87vette81big · May 18, 2016

The Chevy 193 Heads are the 1987-1995 TBI 350 cylinder heads Grumpy.
I have the Heads off the 1994 K1500 Suburban.
I am not impressed how thin the cylinder head decks are.
About 10 times thinner than a Pontiac 400-455 Engine, Olds 425-455 & 366-427 Tall Deck, & Musclecar era 1965-1974 BBC engines.

Drivers side 193 head is Junk.
So is the Block.
Scorched & cracked between #3 & #5 like a Boosted Engine running 28 psi Boost .

87vette81big · May 22, 2016

I found a possible suitable SBC for the Suburban Grumpy.
From a 1984 Corvette.
Not too many miles. Price is reasonable. Chicago & not to far.
Will the TBI intake bolt up modifying the center 4 intake bolt holes ?
I have heard it can be done prior, TBI intake 1987-1995 onto straight bolt pattern old school SBC 1955-1985 with iron heads.
I have also heard that the C4 Corvette 1986 late release "128" aluminum heads had straight bolt pattern intakes.
I know my 1987 Corvette TPI intake has the 72 degree center 4 bolt pattern lower intake.

Other possible engines are TBI & in Iowa I found, hard telling....Most likely beat to death, everything has been neglected real bad since that Muslum Bam showed up in 2008...ran to death...likely never maintained & never any oil changes.

Corvette engines usually well maintained.

87vette81big · May 22, 2016

I clicked on and read some very old links.
Interesting.
Swirl port heads tech date back to 1985.
Wish they used thicker decks on them.
Kinda crappy I think.
But the engine lasted 363,00 miles.

Grumpy · May 22, 2016

next time you have access to the later vortec style intake gaskets (even old used ones) and a 1955-85 first generation cylinder head ,or first gen intake gaskets and a vortec cylinder head, take the time to line up the bolt holes on the gasket and cylinder heads, I thing you may be rather amazed at the differences in port size and locations.
theres several different intake gasket sets available but the standard first gen intake gaskets about like the #1205 and place that gasket on the vorteck style heads and youll see the ports won,t seal as the vortec ports are taller than the intake gaskets with the bolt holes properly aligned
yeah an hour spent carefully reading links and sub-links here and now could save you weeks of work and over $1000 dollars

http://www.chevyhardcore.com/tech-s...-1st-gen-heads-vs-vortech-heads-reader-guide/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/what-heads-are-these.11700/#post-54844

http://www.onedirt.com/tech-stories/engine/a-guide-to-vortec-vs-oe-small-block-chevy-heads/

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/148-0507-street-style-vortec-head-test/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ose-first-sbc-heads-you-buy.10910/#post-49203

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/the-new-215cc-vortec-heads.266/#post-35948

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-vortec-heads-and-other-heads.401/#post-34996

COMMON SBC INTAKE PORTS
felpro # 1204=Port Size: 1.23" x 1.99"=2.448 sq inches

felpro # 1205=Port Size: 1.28" x 2.09"=2.67 sq inches

felpro # 1206=Port Size: 1.34" x 2.21"=2.96 sq inches

felpro # 1207=Port Size: 1.38" x 2.28"=3.146 sq inches

felpro # 1209=Port Size: 1.38" x 2.38"=3.28 sq inches

felpro # 1255 VORTEC=Port Size: 1.08" x 2.16"-2.33 sq inches

felpro # 1263=Port Size: 1.31" x 2.02"=2.65 sq inches

felpro # 1266=Port Size: 1.34" x 2.21"=2.96 sq inches

felpro # 1284 LT1=Port Size: 1.25 x 2.04''=2.55 sq inches

felpro # 1289 FASTBURN=Port Size: 1.30" x 2.31"3.00 sq inches

87vette81big · May 22, 2016

The TBI Engine uses like 1205 Intake Fel Pros Grumpy.
I have Race 1206 & 1207 sbc here put away. So I am familiar with .

Vortech I know is much different .

87vette81big · May 22, 2016

I have a Set of used Trickflow Gen 1 sbc heads Perimeter valve cover design here I bought back.in 2011.
I may set on the Suburban shortblock later today. Then drop the Stock TBI Intake on.
See for myself .

87vette81big · May 22, 2016

The 4x4 forums say what I attempting to do is possible and has been done prior without too much work.

87vette81big · May 23, 2016

I did research on my own after reading your links.
Its too big of a PIA To install Vortech heads on the Suburban.
Also Lightweight heads used by Chevy since 1971.

87vette81big · May 23, 2016

Could use my Trickflow G1's.
But likely a waste with the stock TBI Camshaft.
Also the 1984 Corvette has Cam timing similar to 1987-1995 TBI Truck 350.

NewbVetteGuy · Apr 29, 2022

Anyone happen to have any information on the intake port volume of the 193 TBI L05 Swirlport heads? I can't find it to save my life. I'm trying to help a guy using them on a TPI build for a van that needs to tow; he's got a baby cam, rhodes lifters, and thermal barrier coated pistons, chamber, and valve heads. -I'm afraid this thing might be a detonation factory in the Arizona heat that he lives in, so I'm trying to get an octane requirement rating out of PipeMax. (His DCR is just under 8.0 but he's got a terrible .055" squish and the intake wave tuning on TPI is important to model so I'm using the new PipeMax to see what it says.)

I'm going to guess 168cc for the intake port volume for now, but if anyone actually has this info, I'd be HAPPY to use it.

Adam

Grumpy · Apr 29, 2022

Garrett Robert Herning - Projects Singh Groove Experiment

Garrett Robert Herning - Projects Main Page

www.herningg.com

Flow bench tests/numbers for TBI/TPI intake port, Swirl...

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www.hotrodders.com

this might help

193 swirl port heads

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Flow bench tests/numbers for TBI/TPI intake port, Swirl...