My friend is building a 350 and he is looking at using a set of Vortec heads and an older 4 bolt main 350. I thought that he could go pre 87 because he was looking at a magnum 270 cam rather than a roller cam. The guy doing the block for him says here is machining involved in fitting the vortecs. Anyone done this?

 

Vortecs fit 1955-Present (except LT1/LT4/LS1). You still need the special intake though.
-Rippin

 

Like he said you have to use a different intake but the head bolt patterns are identacle...but why doesn't he want to use a roler cam?? they make a much flatter torque curve which=fun and fast, and these day their isn't much of a price diff

 

If by older 350 4-bolt (probably from a corvette,) you mean non-roller, then you'll need a retrofit roller cam and lifters. Parts alone will run you $600+.
The vortec intake ports are about 1/4" longer than stock, so you'll be sucking most of you're air from around the intake instead of through it.
The only way to fix that is to weld on a piece to close the gap, but you really DON'T WANT TO DO ANY WELDING ON THE MATING SURFACE OF THE INTAKE.
If you really want the vortecs, bite the bullet and buy the correct intake.


This is a GMPP fast burm alum head (vortec style.)


388/6.4Liter Motown 350 non-roller engine, Stock 350/5.7Liter 88' Camaro is a roller.


Motown 350 long block with Scroggins-Dickey High-Flow TPI base plate (intake.)

From another angle

 

Yes you can use the vortec heads on older blocks, but as everyone said you need a new intake manifold because the vortec intake manifolds bolt straight down instead of towards the heads for a better seal against the block. If your friend hasnt yet purchased his heads I have a set of complete vortec heads, performer rpm air gap manifold, 1.6 ratio RR, and valve covers for sale for 850$, I was going to do a similar swap in my 87 but purchased my 97 instead and gave the 87 to my brother.

 

Thanks Monk but he already has the heads.

Raul.Garcia can you clarify about the retrofit roller cam and lifters? I was told the pre 87 block could be machined to allow the roller cam. He was going with a non roller hydraulic cam to avoid the machining costs as he was getting the older block for next to nothing. From your reply it looks like you are saying the Vortec heads must have a roller cam. Yes?

 

just put in a CC XE268 or XE274 cam....like 100$ and those things are sending alot of people into the 350-400HP range with a vortec setup

 

No vortec heads do not require a roller cam...yes a roller cam makes more power and yes a flat tappet is cheaper then retrofitting a roller...so you have to weigh your options and your budget

 

I run a regular Victor Jr intake on my vortec heads for our race car. So an new intake isnt **Required** All you have to do is make your intake bolt holes into slots and any intake will work

 

heck yeah they are. i am going to be running a vortech setup on my chevelle very soon.