OldVetteguy84

I posted about this on C3 forum, but didn't get much help. My 67 came with what I was told was a crate engine. You guys were helpful and identified it as a 77 350. I have pulled the pan and it has four bolt mains. My 20 dollar bore scope seems to my uneducated eye to show dished pistons. I had it on chassis dyno to solve vibration issues and it had 300/300 and good low end torque. Like most of us I am wondering about upgrades for a little more power that won't break the bank, and vortec heads sound great. Not looking to race or crazy power, just a little more punch stoplight to stoplight. Would they be a good choice?I know about the other changes needed (intake,rockers etc.) I have tried to include a few pics. Thanks! Tim

Pop Chevy

A 77 350 would have large combustion chambers and small valves. Anything you can do to increase compression and flow will help. Looks like you already have headers. Thats good. Vortec heads will help, Summit sells aluminum Flo Tec heads for about the same money or a little more. I bought a set and they are very nice, you might want to look at them. Take some weight off too.

OldVetteguy84

would you use 64 cc heads

Nowhere Man

4:11 rear gears

Crider

Vortec heads should flow a little better and bump compression on that engine, so yes you'd gain a little power

Purple92

So - if it made 300 Wheel HP & 300 Ft lb of torque (also at the wheels) - the odds are quite high that that is NOT a 1977 vintage 350. Most 350's back in the late 1970's made 150 - 200 HP or so at the flywheel - on a good day !!!

So - to be honest - with heads that flow well enough to make 300 HP - I doubt that the Vortec heads will be much of an improvement.

Diablo427

Yes, Vortec heads would increase power on your engine. When my 67 L79 blew a head gasket, rebuilt in 1980 with forged flat top TRW pistons, I put some $200 each Amazon DNA motoring aluminum heads and long tube headers on. I ported and cleaned them up with new valves, springs, and rocker studs. It picked up a ton of power. So much so, that it started breaking things. If you go with Vortec, they are heavy iron heads and require a different manifold to match the Vortec bolt spacing. It adds up pretty quickly. I would go with aluminum as you can bump compression, get larger valves, new springs, and get a great quench with the right gasket. I used a Felpro .015 steel one to get the most compression. Saves about 40 pounds or something, too. I can run it on 89 octane now instead of 93 with iron double humps.

Crider

Those 462624 heads are some of the worst that GM ever put on a 350, 76cc chambers, lightweight casting and an extra large exhaust crossover, so yes the vortecs are a better head

CaptainEgg

I agree with Purple92, if you are making 300hp at the wheels that engine is not a stock 77 350. That being said I would first find out what all has been done to that motor before I spend money on something that will more than likely not do what you want!

Pop Chevy

Yes , to the 64cc chamber. The flotec's I bought had 64 cc, SS 2.02 intakes, 180cc intake ports and a better chamber design. I was very impressed with them. American made too.

Jam421

My recently installed 4.11's behind my BP 383 rock. Gears are the absolute best bang for the buck..

Vette5311

From earlier this year, worth the read.
Best Small-Block Chevy Heads: Dyno Shootout! (motortrend.com)

Westlotorn

Nice Read on the head test, I wish it was expanded to include some of the top names. AFR, Brodix for example. The top heads may cost half again as much and it would be nice to see what you gain from the extra cash spent.

Vette5311

Current issue of HEMMINGS Muscle Machines has a good article on Vortec heads also. Feb 24 issue.

Westlotorn

I think from idle to 5,000 RPM a vortec head is pretty hard to beat. Above 5,000 RPM the better heads take over. From zero to 5,000 is where most of our engines spend 99% of their time so not a bad head at all but as others pointed out, you need a special manifold to bolt up, the rocker arms and push rods are unique plus they are heavy compared to aluminum heads.
I have a set of AFR 195 heads that were milled to 58cc chambers. I am thinking these will be perfect for a 327 with flat top pistons. Should make a fun engine. with the thin gaskets compression would be right at 10:1. I have the block, pistons and heads so I have to build it some day right? I bet with the AFR heads this 10:1 327 will pull much harder than the factory L79. Future build with plenty of power that can run well on pump gas.