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Good flowing budget heads for a SBC rebuild.

handloader90

handloader90

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Picking up a 4 bolt main, 1 piece RMS engine for $50 this Sunday.

Gonna tear it down and have the block pressure tested and magnafluxed. If everything checks out I'll have the block decked, mains align honed and the cylinders honed or possible punched out depending if/ how much it has already been bored.

This is basically gonna be a low budget, semi-stock rebuild. Just want a fresh small block to swap into my truck.

I'm looking at tossing a set of Vortec heads on the block when it's ready. 906 or 062 heads seem to be the two flavors of Vortec heads. I've read that the 062 heads have better flow?

Anyone recommend one iver the other?

I know that I will have to get an intake manifold specific to the Vortec heads.

Anything else that I need to know about putting a set on?
 
I've been doing research on the Vortec heads and I've read that by the time it's all said and done (self aligning rockers etc) a person's could be into a set of aftermarket aluminum heads for around the same price.
 
The problem with budget aluminum heads is that they are budget. I believe all of the cheapest ones are chinese, and quality seemingly varies from piece to piece, big surprise.

If you can reuse your intake and valve covers if you stick with the "older" head design, that would be about the only savings you'd get from NOT going Vortec that I can think of. Assuming you'd buy new rocker arms anyway, the fact that the Vortecs use self-aligning rockers is not much of a consideration. Lift is definitely a consideration, right around .450" is max for the stock Vortec springs.

Even the Vortecs are thin/cheap castings, and are quite prone to cracking. Not that they will for certain, but it happens, and often enough for it to be a consideration. An aftermarket thicker Vortec casting would be something to think about if there are any good quality ones out there that aren't massively more cost.

Vortecs as-is are good truck heads. If you want anything more than low-RPM torque, probably wiser to start out with something that is geared towards what you want to do, instead of trying to modify Vortecs.
 
Don't forget those same budget heads usually need the valve guides and valve seats adjusted to work properly or they toast themselves in short order.
 
  • Was gonna use iron vortec heads for a torquey engine combo as per my machinist but I ended up using edelbrock e-tec 170cc heads with springs and guide plates. Not cheaper but it cut out all the bs with press in studs, cheap casting, low lift, etc I think it was worth it. The aluminum heads knock down the compression a small amount as well which helps with the garbage fuel at the pump.
 
Doing all that work on a SBC you usually end up spending more than it will cost for a first rate long block or short block blueprint engine shipped to your front door from blueprint engines or Jegs or summit their biggest distributors.

Couple recommendation's:
Long Block:
http://www.blueprintengines.com/ind...anding/gm-350-main/item/bp3504ct1-gm-base-350

Short Block:
http://www.blueprintengines.com/ind...83-main/item/gm-383-shortblock-plus-bp38321sp

Heads:
http://www.blueprintengines.com/ind...tem/bp-195cc-sb-chevy-aluminum-cylinder-heads

Check out blueprint's or Jegs sites for different options and manufacturers including GM Crate Engines lots of options for any budget.

Jegs has free shipping & no tax on most everything.
 
He is right. I had 3/4 of that price in my head swap after you add in all the gaskets, stuff you don't think about and oops corrections.
 
Those Blueprint heads look pretty legit.

I'm guessing since they said that they are designed and produced here that they are 100% US made.
 
And buying crate long block kinda takes the fun out of it for me... I wanna take an old crusty block and have it machined and put it all together myself. I guess buying something already put together would take the satisfaction out of it for me.
 
Pick a machine shop and ask them about heads
 
handloader90 said:
Those Blueprint heads look pretty legit.

I'm guessing since they said that they are designed and produced here that they are 100% US made.
Click to expand...

Upon further research...
Looks like Blueprint has some of their aluminum heads cast overseas & builds, machines, and port's them here in USA with American parts.

Edelbrocks are 100% made in USA without exception:
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/mc/cylinder-heads/

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/60715/10002/-1

My preference is made in USA or most American made when it's an option so I'd personally opt for edelbrock or brodix aluminum heads.
 
If you do end up going with vortec heads...I have a JEGs vortec 4 barrel intake on mine and its been exellent
 
Once your a customer, they answer all sorts of questions
 
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