I searched thru all the archives and could not find what I was looking for, so hold the flames! LOL! First, I have had a few pairs of vortec heads and I do know what is required to put them on an engine (I had to learn the hard way though, since I did it in '97!). I got a buddy that has a vortec enging that was given to him to go into his hot rod 27 truck. I have an old cross ram intake that now has 6x1bbls on it and would look killer on the egnine and truck. So, the question is: Has anyone here put an old intake on a set of vortecs personally or had direct contact with someone that has? I know that the bolts are different (But that is an easy fix with either welding on the intake to make them straight or redrilling), and I know that the intake runners are taller on the vortecs. This is where the real problem is. I have heard of double stacking gaskets, but I have never known anybody to actually do it, so it may be an urban legend! I have not put the actual intake up to the vortecs to see if there is enough meat to port match enough either. Can you possibly weld a matching plate to the bottom of the intake flange to "raise the runner" so to speak? Any other ideas or advice? Thanks!
I have heard, so it may be rumour, that there are aluminum adapter pieces to space the intake just right. I'd check with Jegs, Summit, etc............ or do a google search.
Vortec ports are about 1/4" taller iirc and tapered at the top. You would have to do a trial fit and maybe have to add some aluminum at the top so the gaskets seal. the heads can be drilled out for the standard old school sbc. There will still be a major port mismatch between the intake and the heads which will probably loose most of the gains the good flowing vortec heads are so popular for . performance wise you would be better off with an intake made for the Vortec heads . a performer rpm or a super victor single plane (there are specific vortec models of both) but looks wise, Id just use some conventional sbc heads and save all the hassle . Doug
Bueller?.........Bueller?............Bueller?.............. Anyone?..........anyone?............anyone?.......... Else that is? LOL!
it does not work. The confusion comes from the term vortec being used on the gm line of truck engines. The previous generation of efi heads used a port configuration very similar to the pre '86 heads. Early intakes could be installed on those by elongating the mounting holes to work with the vertical bolts used on the later heads. In '96 the vortec heads were introduced with the LT1 chamber and raised ports. There is no intelligent way to put an early manifold on the vortec heads. There are several carb manifolds available, most from Edelbrock.
if the bolts go in the manifold like a ford 302 does nothing from the earlier gen manifolds will fit. you can buy aftermarket manifolds that will fit the heads.
get a set of gaskets and check.....for the record...i think there are some "vortec" heads now avalible with the intakes drilled both ways... they might not be oem , not sure.....
sigh........that is what I thought. I was just hoping that someone had done it with a spacer or something or welding on the intake. I don't know that anyone would make an intake like this to bolt up to vortecs though! Old crossram with 6 x1's on it! LOL
i think it was boyd or rad rides that took a 3x2 intake and welder it up so you could match the ports to the heads. then redrilled them to bolt on. but there was a lot of work done. not a bolt on deal. but i know it has been done. it was in one of the rags. just don't know what one.
vortech heads aint that great anyways. Between all the shit you have to do to dress them up to make them look like a traditional piece you could buy a set of Dart aluminum heads and bult your favorite finned covers and ten carb intake right to them. Paint the heard black or orange and no one would know the difference.....unless they really cared to look.
well the thing is he has the heads. and at 550 NEW for a pair. the valve cover adapters at 80$ if you buy them. and seeing how outa the box they flow better than any other stock GM iron casting for the SBC. the only real problem is the old style intakes. no there not real traditional. but free is never a bad deal
""well the thing is he has the heads."" Here is the first Mistake.. Just 'Cus Ya have them don't always meen they are what ya need to use, ""seeing how outa the box they flow better than any other stock GM iron casting for the SBC."" And the second thing... He says he wants to use "An old cross ram with 6 1bbls" Ya think that manifold "Flows" ? SELL the Vortec heads & buy a GOOD head that fits what you are trying to do. Don't People use Chevys cus they are easy ? Sounds like you are trying to RIG some abortion that you can actually GET parts for easy.
no your right. didn't catch the part on the cross ram intake. there a good head just not for what hes doing.
I'd fab a sheet metal cross-ram, myself. It would be fun, look crazy, should work really well with these heads and no-one else would have it. If you want it to look traditional, dig up some centerbolt stude valve covers. I have a '99 vortec motor that I intend to run a 2x4 manifold on. Inline, progressive linkage. Part of hotrodding is using what you have and modifying it to work better.
Thanks guys. Like I said, he already has the engine (with heads on it) for free. The whole point of me asking was to see if it could be done feasably. But it appears it can't be! The heads are the best flowing stockers out and if he uses this morphadite intake, it needs all the help it can get I'm sure! LOL! Not trying to reinvent the wheel, just seeing if it would work. Thanks.
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