anybody had experience with vortech heads, and the new Scoggin-Dickey TPI base manifold ?

Am thinking about a 406 SBC w/ vortech heads and TPI.

Also, my car is a 89 w/ the 5.7 TPI. Is that an L98 engine?

 

That is a L98 Mass Air Flow setup.

As to the Vortec heads, they are reputed to be OK but SDPC is the only one that makes a manifold for our applications that I am aware of. As such, I am a little hesitant to go their way. I just hate the idea of being part of the captive audience. In my case, with the AFR heads, I can go with any manifold I chose. Just my $0.02

 

My dad is putting together a 350 engine with Vortec heads, SDPC intake manifold, SLP runners, ZZ4 cam, and SLP 1 3/4" headers. He's still building it, but Desktop Dyno says 350 HP. You just have to watch the camshaft clearance with these heads, as they wont take much lift in stock form.

 

Well, Aklim is partially right. SDPC is the only manufacturer that makes TI bases, however TPIS has a TPIS mini ram3 that is designed for vortec style heads. That said, you really have to be sure that you have no future plans of hitting anything more than 400 horse N/A to run the Vortecs. If you want to run more than that even two or three years down the road, please take the advice of someone like me who has done enough engines over, and over,to learn the lesson that done right the first time ,eally matters. I have spent soooo much money on my car that I wish I could have back, that I will never see again. For example, I have been building my car for seven years, I seriously have about 45,000 into it at this point, with maybe 25,000 accounted for. Where is the rest? The rest is the three previous engines it took to get it right, it is the five blown five speeds before I switched to a six speed, It is the countless computer chips I spent before going DFI ( I spent over 1000 dollars on chips before I knew that I could get a DFI for 800 bucks). I am sorry to rant on your post, but I have been watching too many people follow my foot steps lately, and maybe you are not one of them but I had to get it off my chest. Good luck on your combo, and let me know if you need any help or spare parts.

 

The Vortecs are producing more than 450 NA hp on many engines these days.

But your best bet is to port your current heads to the point that they flow like the Vortecs. Why spend so much money when you don't have to?

Check the link at the bottom of my sig to find out how