those first SBC heads you buy

[grumpyvette]

Hello all,subject are heads,vortec heads, im trying to find the best vortec heads to go with or aluminum heads and are affordable $500-1000 range,i do want power, i know tbi and tpi vortec heads are different. Im learning as i go as well, so do i stick with a 96 on up vortec head? And what are some good aftermarket aluminum heads? I want more of a street and strip car

everyone is on a tight budget, but , trust me, when I say,you'll eventually really regret spending your hard earned cash on mediocre or inferior heads that significantly restrict your engines potential power,almost all stock production heads are highly restrictive compared to the better aftermarket heads, gains of 40-80hp can be had easily, so think thru what you really want to build in the long term, spend a bit more on heads now may prevent you being forced into replacing them later with better heads your far better off spending $1100-$1400 that you can hardly afford on a set of high quality cylinder heads that flow at least 250 cfm at .500 lift, simply because almost no other single component has as much effect on your engines potential power limitations as a good set of cylinder heads.
if your dead set on vortec heads and want to make good power Id sure buy the 215cc large port vortec heads as they can easily support 550 plus hp.
spending $700-$900 on heads you may need to replace later may not be a great idea financially compared to spending $1100 or a bit more ONCE
but I would not be mentally locked into the vortec heads as the only option, there are several very effective standard 23 degree heads available. a couple hours reading can save you hundreds of dollars in wasted cash and moths of work

yeah several hours reading but if you take the time to read all the threads & sub links youll be far ahead

heres the larger port vortecs, they far outflow the smaller versions, match them to a good intake and the proper cam and compression ratio and drive train gearing ETC. and you can get amazing results
http://www.strokerengine.com/VortecHeads.html

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/148-0208-vortec-heads-valve-lift/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotatio ... v3ZkqZiMjI

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=10705&p=46582&hilit=215cc+vortec#p46582

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=266&p=40004&hilit=215cc+vortec#p40004

http://www.strokerengine.com/SBCHeadsFlow.html

http://airflowresearch.com/articles/article115/A-P1.htm

http://airflowresearch.com/articles/article072/A-P1.htm

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5521&p=29720&hilit=+l98+fuelie+corvette#p29720

viewtopic.php?f=69&t=3814

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=322&p=722&hilit=dart+882#p722

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=333&p=407&hilit=dart+882#p407

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=148&p=182&hilit=dart+882#p182

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=796&p=1156&hilit=dart+882#p1156

http://airflowresearch.com/articles/article031/A-P1.htm

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=58

BTW theres two common vortec intake manifold gaskets, these vortec heads have taller ports than the standard 23 degree first gen SBC heads
The Fel Pro 1255 is .120 thick
The GM 89017465 is .060 thick

A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS SPENT ON QUALITY HEADS WILL RESULT IN FAR BETTER RESULTS

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s ... dic+IK+200

http://www.jegs.com/i/Dart/301/10311111 ... tId=756811

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-5073

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-60995

 

[grumpyvette]

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/vor ... g-upgrade/
The hottest cylinder head on the small-block Chevy hit parade right now is the Vortec iron head. It's extremely affordable and flows a bunch of air for a stock production iron head with a 170cc port volume, making it the ideal cornerstone for a budget 400hp street small-block. If the Vortec head has an Achilles heel, it would be the valvesprings. The stock Vortec springs are designed to control a very mild stock cam. The biggest hurdle is accommodating valve lifts above 0.450 inch.

Since even mild performance cams stretch the valve-lift envelope into the 0.500-inch range, the Vortec heads require modifications to the valveguide to allow more lift and new springs. This machining operation can be easily accomplished by any automotive machine shop, but it adds to the cost of the heads. As an alternative, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center and other GM Performance Parts dealers offer Vortec heads that have already been modified, but as you might expect, this also drives up the price.
Comp Cams PN 26915 and PN 26918 beehive springs are direct replacements for the LS1 spring and fit the Vortec head with no machining required. These springs offer more lift capability and more load than the stock springs, and the conical shape results in a lighter retainer that provides increased valve control at high rpm.

Recently we ran across another solution. Comp Cams' new "beehive" or conical valvesprings are similar to those used on GM's Gen II production LS1 and LS6 engines. These springs are wound with an ovate, or oval, wire that creates more room for valve lift before the spring reaches coil-bind. In addition, the smaller beehive design reduces the retainer diameter and weight, which helps the spring do a better job of controlling the valve at high rpm. But perhaps the best news of all is that these springs will bolt right onto a stock Vortec head with no machining required. These springs also increase the amount of available valve lift from 0.450 to 0.550 inch. (The spring can accommodate as much as 0.665-inch lift, but when installed at 1.800-inch height, the retainer-to-seal clearance limits lift to slightly more than 0.550 inch.)

These springs are more expensive than standard valvesprings, but the cost is commensurate with their performance capabilities. When you consider these simple springs do an equal job to a dual spring and are lighter to boot, there just might be something to this conical thing.
The GM Performance Parts Vortec head is an excellent choice for mild small-block Chevy street engines because it offers 400hp potential for a bolt-on price of under $500.

SPRING SPECS

This chart compares the two Comp Cams conical springs to an older dual spring. The second portion of this chart shows the difference in weight between the conical and dual spring. The dual-spring combination is 40 percent heavier than the conical-spring combination. Given that both springs offer basically the same seat and open loads, the conical spring would offer more valve control due to its reduced mass.

The beauty of this beehive spring is that it fits directly over the Vortec's large valveguide without requiring expensive machine work. The only downside is that these new springs are almost twice as expensive.<br><br><br>

Valvespring PN 26915 PN 26918 PN 986
Outside/inside Dia. 1.290/0.885 1.290/0.885 1.430/0.697
Seat load 105 @ 1.800 130 @ 1.800 132 @ 1.750
Open load 293 @ 1.200 318 @ 1.200 310 @ 1.200
Coil bind 1.085 1.085 1.150
Spring rate 313 313 296

Component weight in grams
PN 26918 spring: 73
PN 774 retainer: 12
Total: 85

986 dual spring: 115
986 retainer: 28
Total: 143

This is a shot of the stock Vortec valveguide. Note that the large outside diameter of the guide (0.900 inch) is used as a locater for the valvespring. When converting to larger springs, the inside diameter of the spring must be larger than this dimension or you will need to machine the guide, which is an added expense.

PARTS LIST

-Valvespring, beehive
Comp Cams 26915 $186

-Valvespring, beehive
Comp Cams 26918 $186

-Retainer, steel
Comp Cams 774 $59

-Keepers, 7-degree
Comp Cams 648-16 $28

-Dual spring kit
Comp Cams 986-16 $85

-Retainers for 986 spring
Comp Cams 740-16 $60

-Keepers, 10-degree
Comp Cams 611-16 $26

-Vortec cylinder head
GMPP 12558060 $489/pair*

-Vortec head, modified
Scoggin-Dickey SD8060A $639/pair*

* Scoggin-Dickey price
Sources
Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center
Lubbock, TX 79424
800-456-0211
http://www.sdparts.com
Comp Cams
Memphis, TN 38118
800-999-0853
http://www.compcams.com
Chevrolet Performance Parts
Detroit, MI 48232
800-577-6888
www.gmperformanceparts.com

you really should get these books and read them before going any further, it will help a good deal


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...5079777/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-1234339-0571324

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...gy_img_2/102-1234339-0571324?v=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...gy_img_2/102-1234339-0571324?v=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t..._books_1/102-1234339-0571324?v=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t..._books_3/102-1234339-0571324?v=glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_2/102-1234339-0571324?v=glance&s=books

INVESTING THE TIME AND EFFORT IN PURCHASING AND READING A FEW BOOKS WILL BE VERY COST EFFECTIVE

http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories/en ... ine-block/
"

SMALL BLOCK REFERENCE BOOKS YOULL WANT
start by buying these books and watching the video

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/resmchstvi.html

http://www.amazon.com/David-Vizards...8&qid=1456194032&sr=8-5&keywords=DAVID+VIZARD
HOW TO BUILD MAX PERFORMANCE CHEVY SMALL BLOCKS ON A BUDGET by DAVID VIZARD
.

JOHN LINGENFELTER on modifying small-block chevy engines
http://www.amazon.com/Lingenfelter-...=1456193940&sr=8-1&keywords=JOHN+LINGENFELTER

http://www.amazon.com/Smokey-Yunick...2&sr=8-1&keywords=smokey+yunick+power+secrets

http://www.amazon.com/Chevrolet-Rac...ords=The-Chevrolet-Racing-Engine-Bill-Jenkins


reading the related info will be helpful
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-151124

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...train-clearances-and-problems.528/#post-57678

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ting-up-the-valve-train.181/page-2#post-54091

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/what-springs.11352/#post-51960

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-loads-and-installed-height.10709/#post-46627

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/removing-valve-seals.4283/#post-44287

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-1209-eight-budget-sbc-head-shootout/

https://www.chevydiy.com/ultimate-chevy-big-inch-small-block-cylinder-heads-cheat-sheet/

https://www.chevydiy.com/the-complete-cylinder-head-guide-for-chevy-small-block-engines/

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/83138-choosing-best-small-block-heads/

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2014/05/dont-gamble-when-choosing-cylinder-heads/

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/m...Chevy-Small-Block-Cylinder-Heads/1848889.html

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2017/03/cylinder-head-design-selection/

https://www.jegs.com/p/ProMaxx-Perf...hevy-Aluminum-Cylinder-Heads/2786544/10002/-1

https://www.flotekheads.com/2016/01/12/best-small-block-chevy-heads/


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

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/vortec-info.529/#post-27299

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...o-the-large-port-vortec-heads.1040/#post-1943

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/vortec-related-info.731/#post-1028
Stock out of box 461x heads 1.940/1.500
but with very light 3-angle valve job
tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000 Bore fixture
Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200---- 99.6-----88.0
.300----155.2-----124.3
.400----189.0-----141.9
.450----190.6----------
.500----190.6-----142.2
.550----192.0----------
.600----192.6-----146.4
*** Short exhaust pipe on exhaust ports


Maxed out porting job, unwelded, 461 X SBC
no epoxy , with 2.055/1.600 valves
tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000 Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----131.1-----116.1
.300----187.7-----152.7
.400----230.0-----193.9
.450----243.3----------
.500----259.7-----212.5
.550----266.5----------
.600----273.2-----245.1
.650----278.0----------
.700----282.0-----253.3
.750----283.6----------
***Short exhaust pipe on exhaust ports

Basically this was the sort of Flow
we were getting for C/ED dragster 316 cid
a very long time ago
Note: if ditch near spark plug, between
area around both valves to plug
is welded up ,...then another 4 to 8 cfm
is gained on Intake flow (461 X SBC)
if you also wanted to start welding the entire
chamber floor lowering CCs and increasing
short turn radius on 461x ,
and welding up intake port's roof
water jacket solid .... then it was
worth another 4 to 8 cfm gains .
so some of the very best WELDED up
461x heads were approx 299 cfm @ 28 inches

==========================================
Stock out of box 034 Cast-Iron Bowtie heads
with factory valve job and 2.020/1.600
Tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----117.9----107.9
.300----169.5----123.8
.400----205.0----146.2
.500----216.6----146.6
.550----228.3---------
.600----222.1----148.8
.650----215.8---------
.700----216.8----148.8
.750----217.8---------
***with pipe on exhaust ports


Cast-Iron Chevy Bowtie heads #034 castings
with 2.085/1.580 valves
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----127.7-----104.6
.300----189.2-----158.8
.400----238.5-----204.0
.450----256.6----------
.500----271.0-----216.0
.550----281.5----------
.600----288.6-----218.6
.650----293.3----------
.700----298.4-----221.1
.750----304.3
.800----308.3
.850----311.4
***with pipe on exhaust ports
all out porting but no epoxy or welding


Brodix Track 1 SBC with Manley 2.080/1.600
Best CNC porting ..by Weld Tech
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----125.5-----120.4
.300----189.8-----153.7
.400----245.8-----190.1
.450----269.7----------
.500----286.7-----228.3
.550----295.1----------
.600----294.7-----244.7
.650----301.4----------
.700----301.4-----252.0
.750----300.3----------
***with pipe on exhaust ports

-----------------------------------------
Cast-Iron Chevy Vortec heads #10239906
1.940/1.500 OEM valve job and shape
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----121.4-----98.2
.300----179.4-----123.8
.400----219.2-----137.5
.450----230.6----------
.500----220.8-----146.0
.550----221.6----------
.600----223.1-----151.9
.650----224.7----------
*** No-Pipe attached , bare exhaust ports


--------------------------------------------
Cast-Iron Chevy Vortec heads #10239906
Manley 2.055/1.600 valves
2nd Level porting , not yet all out
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----143.9-----119.5
.300----192.2-----169.9
.400----235.7-----195.5
.450----252.3----------
.500----264.1-----207.0
.550----258.6----------
.600----265.1-----212.6
.650----271.0----------
.700----271.1-----215.6
.750----272.0----------
***No-Pipe attached , bare exhaust ports


-------------------------------------------
Chevy Fast Burn heads with Manley 2.125/1.600
1st Level full porting job, not yet all out
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----134.4
.300----190.0
.400----235.5
.450----254.3
.500----270.4
.550----277.9
.600----270.0
.650----275.0
.700----277.5
.750----279.5
.800----279.5
****No flow numbers available on exhaust
were lost on computer's harddrive !!!
-----------------------------------------


GM Chevy LT-1 aluminum heads 2.055/1.600
1st Level porting
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----138.4----115.3
.300----193.2----154.5
.400----235.7----182.5
.450----250.3---------
.500----261.2----193.2
.550----259.2---------
.600----260.2----200.6
.650----262.2---------
.700----262.2----205.7
.750----263.1---------
.800----264.1---------
***No-Pipe attached , bare exhaust ports
.600" Lift with Pipe flowed = 223.6 cfm

-------------------------------------------
Dart Pro 1 Aluminum 215 CC ports
out of box shape as shipped by Dart
2.055 valve on 2.020 seat lapline
1.600 valve on exhaust
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----128.5----115.3
.300----181.3----148.5
.400----226.3----178.4
.450----243.4---------
.500----257.0----192.1
.550----268.1---------
.600----271.2----198.5
.650----262.2---------
.700----266.1----201.1
.750----266.1---------
.800----261.2----203.2
.850----257.2---------
***No-Pipe attached, bare exhaust ports

------------------------------------------
Dart Pro 1 Aluminum 215 CC ports
2nd Level porting
2.125/1.600 valve combo
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----147.8----111.4
.300----208.0----167.3
.400----251.5----198.9
.450----269.4---------
.500----284.6----214.3
.550----295.3---------
.600----299.6----220.3
.650----304.3---------
.700----308.3----224.1
.750----309.5---------
.800----309.5----227.3
.850----310.3---------
.900----309.9---------
***No-Pipe attached, bare exhaust ports

--------------------------------------------

Dart Pro 1 Aluminum 230 CC ports
out of box shape as shipped by Dart
2.055 / 1.600 Manley valves combo
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----123.0-----117.4
.300----179.4-----147.7
.400----223.1-----175.0
.450----241.7----------
.500----257.0-----193.2
.550----269.6----------
.600----278.7-----193.2
.650----270.4----------
.700----267.3-----204.9
.750----268.1----------
.800----265.7-----208.1
***No-Pipe attached, bare exhaust ports
-----------------------------------------

#492 SBC cast-iron castings (Old LT-1 heads)
Stock out of box factory shape
with 2.020/1.600 valves
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----115.2-----105.4
.300----165.2-----132.5
.400----195.6-----138.5
.450----202.3----------
.500----208.9-----143.0
.550----208.1----------
.600----207.3-----146.6
.650----208.7----------
.700----210.1-----146.6
***with pipe on exhaust ports

---------------------------------------------
World Products - Dart SBC Cast-Iron heads
stock out of box shape and valve job
( as produced for sale in Aug 1988 )
these were some old flow test numbers
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----127.5-----107.9
.300----180.7-----136.8
.400----208.9-----145.8
.450----219.4----------
.500----220.4-----150.5
.550----226.8----------
.600----233.3-----154.4
.650----236.7----------
.700----238.3-----155.7
***with pipe on exhaust ports
--------------------------------------------
TrickFlow aluminum SBC heads with 2.020/1.600
out of box shape and valve job, as shipped
Flow tested on SF-600 FlowBench
Flow tested at 28" on 4.000" Bore Fixture

Lift----Intake----Exhaust
.200----139.9-----100.3
.300----200.1-----133.2
.400----234.6-----155.8
.450----238.5----------
.500----237.7-----174.2
.550----238.1----------
.600----237.5-----183.5
.650----236.9----------
.700----238.9-----189.9
***No-Pipe attached, bare exhaust ports
at .700" Lift Exhaust flows =208.7 CFM @ 28
with short pipe attached to heads
-----------------------------------

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