billx68

My dad and I are deciding to go with the Vortec heads and cam build up for my 80 Vette. We've decided to go with an air gap intake, and a pair of Vortec heads out of a junkyard. What is the best year car/truck vortec heads to use? And what is the biggest possible cam we can use with this settup? The car is stock 4 speed. If you can think of a better intake on it let me know (we are looking for an L-88 hood to put on it so clearance is not an issue) Oh, and how do I identify the heads,(#'s, etc) so I know what I'm buying?


(p.s, if you know were I can get a cheap L-88 hood let me know)

Vette79C3

You are going to get a lot of responses when it comes to CAM Options but I can tell you that CompCams XE262 and 268 work just fine with a build similar to this without vacuum problems. The XE262 is mild with 218/224. Everything you are doing has to coincide with one another. What size (cc) are the heads? What else are you doing?

billx68

We havent got heads yet, we are still trying to find out what are the best Vortecs we can get. But we would like to use the biggest cam we can. We were looking at the LUNATI 268"-489 lift

Durango_Boy

There were only two stock Vortec head castings, and both are great. One is slightly better, but the differences are so small you would never see the difference.

I would suggest, when you get the heads...and I can help you find some with your ZIP code...that you have screw in studs put it, have them machined for higher lift springs, and guide plates if you're not using self aligning rockers.

I don't know about the biggest...there is so much that goes into choosing a cam that you can't really just pinpoint something like that. I mean, are you gonna race with this engine? High RPM power important or do you like low RPM torque?

BKbroiler

With lift over .470 on the Vortec heads you will have to cut the valve guide bosses lower. Not a big deal. I did that on mine and put in screw in studs and heavier springs. I am using the Comp XE262 cam.

mrvette

There U go same question, what do you wanna to with the car?? drag race for fun and little street driving??

or daily street driver?? if the latter, what sort of driving, freeways or small town/city streets?? how far per trip??

that answer changes everything...

Scott Marzahl

Bigger is not always better when it comes to cams. As already asked, what is your intended use for the car, its no fun having an over cammed, cantankerous daily driver. I'd go with an Engle 1018H or one of the above mentioned Comp Cams.

billla

I'd agree with the XE262/268, although as noted more information on the car and use will help you make a better pick.

The best deal on Vortecs are brand new ones - especially if you're staying under .475 lift. Another approach to gain lift is to retrofit CompCams springs; I'm sure someone's posted the P/N but if not I'll do it

billx68

I want it to be street/strip, but im going to drive it to school and work (school is right down the street), until I get a second car. I want to be making 350-400 hp.

Durango_Boy

What's your budget?

worship79

Besides the valvelift issue, don't forget vortec use different intake bolt pattern and if not mistaken, a different angle too. You should check if the Air Gap is actually going to fit.

billx68

Right now its under $800

Durango_Boy

Keep saving. If you want 350 - 400 HP you're going to want to have almost $2K in the bank.

billx68

I saw a guy on here who got 375hp by putting on a pair of Vortec heads, a cam, and intake+carb...thats what i want to do.

Durango_Boy

I would be curious what he did exactly, and how that was measured. Typically a Vortec head and intake swap to an L48 or L82 will net roughly an extra 80 - 90 HP when combined with free flowing exhaust, aggressive cam, and usually a bottom end rebuild.

I'm all for a Vortec swap in fact I suggest it to anyone looking for some extra power for their engine...I just think you're 375 goal is a bit high unless you're planning it with some extras that you haven't mentioned yet...or that your friend did but didn't tell you about.

billx68

I saw it on another forum, but as you said he didnt tell everything he did. I guess I should lower my goal, how about 290-350? Do you have any suggestions on how to get as much power as possible without spending a whole lot? I'm sure my dad will help pitch in if its no too much..

billla

I'm on-board with Durango on this one on all fronts - not enough budget and expectations should be closer to 325 FWHP max...which is still very respectable power!

How many miles are on this engine you're planning to do a top on?

IMHO, and I say this a lot, you need to back up and make a plan - budget driven - and then see what you can achieve for that budget vs. just throwing out power targets and configurations.

You're asking very narrow questions, and all of us are a little nervous that you're missing the forrest for the trees

For an $800 budget I'd put some light home porting work into your stock heads along with new springs and a decent cam upgrade. If you're using the stock Q-jet it's due for an overhaul - and that's another $450 or so. Add some fairly cheap headers and call it close - probably up over 300 HP or so.

It's not the best investment path...but likely one that will stay within your budget. It's way better to have a lesser car that you drive every weekend vs. a "mondo" car that isn't done because you ran out of $$$.

billx68

My zipcode is 08070

jackson

billx68
$800 probably ain't gonna buy decent vortecs, intake, gaskets etc AND a hood ... AND hoodPAINT.

If you're satisfied with a reliable street motor w/ about 350 flywheel hp ... Take a look at specs for GMPP crates 12486041 and 12499120 ... pattern your build similarly.

Vortecs, felpro 1094 gaskets, a lowrise dualplane intake, and an inexpensive camkit like summit's K1103 or K1104 will push an L48 real close to 350fwhp ... and fit under a L48 hood.

or ... instead of vortecs ... substitute ZZ4 aka L98 heads, GM 10105117 gaskets and your OE intake manifold.

No head/cam upgrade is worth doing unless you're certain the rings & bearings are in great shape ... stuffing more compression & revs from head&cam on top of an otherwise marginal motor will quickly kill it.

Vette79C3

As a few of us have mentioned, be patient. If your looking to do a top-end build with the expectation on serious HP be prepared to dig into your wallet a lot deeper. My top-end full rebuild was well over 2K and I lost low-end TQ. I saved and created a budget. You'll want to do as much as you can while you have your Vette opened up. Everything that you want to do has to coincide with one another. For example, do you know what size head is going to give you the best compression ratio in relation to the other parts you will be installing?