I want honest opinions for performance and flow vortec heads or 487x

[travz500]

I have a set of 487x heads that were ported about 8 years ago made a world of difference on my motor building a new motor just took to machine shop today they said 487x heads were better but I have heard many many people say buy a new intake and have the vortec heads ported and make them flow I run a victor jr tall intake 750 holley mechanical secondaries and gonna be a roller hydralic cam setup told them I want the biggest cam I can get to make as much performance as possible and not tear stuff up buying a forged eagle rotating assembly 383 setup what are your opinions old heads or vortec heads???????????

[Captainfab]

While I am a fan of the Vortec heads, that's not really a fair comparison, comparing ported heads to stock heads. The Vortec heads may or may not flow as much as your ported 487X's. It depends on how much work was done to them. The flow isn't the only thing to look at. The Vortec's have a better designed combustion chamber than the 487X's and also a smaller combustion chamber. The Vortecs are 64cc versus the 487X's are I believe 76cc's.

The Vortecs will perform very well in the low to mid range power band. But if you are looking for mid to top end on your 383, you should look into a set of aftermarket heads with 195-200cc intake ports. That is unless your 487X's are ported that much.

[travz500]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

While I am a fan of the Vortec heads, that's not really a fair comparison, comparing ported heads to stock heads. The Vortec heads may or may not flow as much as your ported 487X's. It depends on how much work was done to them. The flow isn't the only thing to look at. The Vortec's have a better designed combustion chamber than the 487X's and also a smaller combustion chamber. The Vortecs are 64cc versus the 487X's are I believe 76cc's.

The Vortecs will perform very well in the low to mid range power band. But if you are looking for mid to top end on your 383, you should look into a set of aftermarket heads with 195-200cc intake ports. That is unless your 487X's are ported that much.

not real sure how much was done to them been a few years ago guys at the machine shop are old school guys and vortec heads to them are bad but I am getting mixed feelings on what to do there is a gentleman that flows heads and ports them close by thinking about letting him flow both of them and see what ones he would use but I am stuck I got a couple of months to decide what to do just dropped motor of this morning so just have to make a decision I told them to clean mine up and check them and see what all they might need first if they are still good or not

[Marv D]

Originally Posted by travz500

........there is a gentleman that flows heads and ports them close by thinking about letting him flow both of them and see .....

That is a wise move. Like said 'flow numbers' isn't everything. Port volocity in a range that is useable to the cam your going to use is WAY more important,, and the flow bench numbers will tell you which wins at low lift. Home ported heads always scare me. To some,, a little bowl cleanup is a port job,, while others get in there hog out material randomly and totally screw up the short side radius = ruin a decent set of heads.

[bk2life]

after market heads are way too cheap to del with any factory heads for performance and flow as originaly stated.

[BigDan3131]

My friend built a blown 383 with those heads [487X] ported and with a 6-71 and a pair of 660's it was dyno'd at 750HP but he was also running a solid roller cam with a tad over .660 lift.

[Captainfab]

It could be that they are some of the guys that think that any head that uses a centerbolt valve cover is a 'Vortec' head. The '87-'95 swirl port TBI heads do not flow well at all.

Originally Posted by travz500

not real sure how much was done to them been a few years ago guys at the machine shop are old school guys and vortec heads to them are bad but I am getting mixed feelings on what to do there is a gentleman that flows heads and ports them close by thinking about letting him flow both of them and see what ones he would use but I am stuck I got a couple of months to decide what to do just dropped motor of this morning so just have to make a decision I told them to clean mine up and check them and see what all they might need first if they are still good or not

[hotrod 80]

Originally Posted by bk2life

after market heads are way too cheap to del with any factory heads for performance and flow as originaly stated.

This is my thinking also . I have the Double hump 2.02 64 cc with accessary holes in the cabinet . Machine shop bill is not worth it . That money could be put into a new head that will out flow the old castings

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

It could be that they are some of the guys that think that any head that uses a centerbolt valve cover is a 'Vortec' head. The '87-'95 swirl port TBI heads do not flow well at all.

Exactly... that seems to confuse a lot of cats that think all centerbolt heads are Vortec heads.

I have a set of those 487X heads laying around. The chamber is 76cc and they are 1.94's. If I was lookin' for performance I would go with something different. The "X" just meant the intake runners were a tad larger than the non "X" heads. By a tad I mean around 10cc's.

I'm not a big fan of the Vortecs... I'd go with a Dart or Brodix head before the Vortecs.

Gary

[travz500]

dropped the heads off and he said he is gonna do his research on both sets for maximum performance for my setup he is gonna put bigger valves in also he is gonna get me setup with what I want and match my intake to everything and figure out what cam i need to get found out my talking to many local racers that he is a wiz when it comes to heads and headwork and a very nice guy that explains everything very well older gentleman also not many genuine guys like him around anymore

[GASoline71]

You will spend just as much (or more) to have those made into 2.02's as you would for a better flowing off the shelf aftermarket set of heads.

Gary

[travz500]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

You will spend just as much (or more) to have those made into 2.02's as you would for a better flowing off the shelf aftermarket set of heads.

Gary

The heads I got are off a 98 pickup and we confirmed the casting numbers they are true vortec heads his quote for a full port job was $500 and if I want to go to bigger valves he will charge a additional $100

[Marv D]

98's will definately be real Vortecs,, but still I'd DEMAND a flowbench report on every runner before and after,,,,

Stock L-31 / 855 vortec heads flowed a best of 239 / 147 @ .55' lift measuring 5 different sets on a Superflow SF-600 (it doesn't get more repeatable than this)
* note heads had guides milled for lift / retainer clearance

One set after a home port/polish and bowl job went 230 / 160,,, ohhh yeah nice job!!! Spend days and $100 on tootsierolls to make a set of decent heads WORSE!!! It's a common achievment! Not that this guy doesn't have a proven program for the vortecs, just saying be CAUTIOUS what and who works on them.

Make sure they are pressure checked for cracks before spending anything else,,, and get a real and final cost for:
replacing the guides and cutting them for retainer clearance,
new valves,
seats as needed,
new springs,
surfacing,
and if milling to reduce the chamber the chamber more than 8-10cc (typically around 0.080 to .100") have the intake face corrected

but FIRST, make sure this isn't the 305 vortec heads,,, There is a tiny 54cc chamber version (the 520 casting as I remember) that will net you compression WAY over pump gas toilerable.

I think what everyone is trying to tell you is it is EASY to stumble here and have a pig in a very expensive dress.

The 15 year old castings are showing signs of being an aged lightweight casting.

Roger Rule #2,,,

Make your choices, Spend your money,,, live with the results.

[travz500]

Originally Posted by Marv D

98's will definately be real Vortecs,, but still I'd DEMAND a flowbench report on every runner before and after,,,,

Stock L-31 / 855 vortec heads flowed a best of 239 / 147 @ .55' lift measuring 5 different sets on a Superflow SF-600 (it doesn't get more repeatable than this)
* note heads had guides milled for lift / retainer clearance

One set after a home port/polish and bowl job went 230 / 160,,, ohhh yeah nice job!!! Spend days and $100 on tootsierolls to make a set of decent heads WORSE!!! It's a common achievment! Not that this guy doesn't have a proven program for the vortecs, just saying be CAUTIOUS what and who works on them.

Make sure they are pressure checked for cracks before spending anything else,,, and get a real and final cost for:
replacing the guides and cutting them for retainer clearance,
new valves,
seats as needed,
new springs,
surfacing,
and if milling to reduce the chamber the chamber more than 8-10cc (typically around 0.080 to .100") have the intake face corrected

but FIRST, make sure this isn't the 305 vortec heads,,, There is a tiny 54cc chamber version (the 520 casting as I remember) that will net you compression WAY over pump gas toilerable.

I think what everyone is trying to tell you is it is EASY to stumble here and have a pig in a very expensive dress.

The 15 year old castings are showing signs of being an aged lightweight casting.

Roger Rule #2,,,

I agree 100% he did a set of bbc aluminum heads for us and he gives out before and after flow and gave a us a few different options and recommendations on what cam and intakes to run he is in his late 60s early 70s and seems very very knowledgeable about this stuff