Vortec Head Swap Question

[Kay86K5]

Hello all. I have been doing some research on vortec head swaps onto these older gm small blocks. A lot of guys have done it and it's not that bad. Later on in the year, I may have access to a vortec 5.7 out of a 1997 tahoe. I was thinking about pulling the heads off that motor, making sure they were in spec, then slapping them on my 383 that's in my K5 right now. My questions is, have any of you out there either done, or heard of anyone taking the entire top end (heads, intake, "throttle body", computer, and wiring harness) and swapping it into these rigs? I was thinking this might be a great way to really wake up my 383 (probably throw in a different cam that works with the vortec heads) and also get fuel injection on my rig. I know that I would need to replumb my fuel system with a fuel pump that is rated for the vortecs and all that jaz, plus have my wiring harness worked to use only the stuff I need and also have it tuned and all the little stuff that goes with this type of swap....but this might be a great way to get my motor really pushing some power and get the desired fuel injection I want for not that much money (the motor might be relatively free ). Just wondering if you guys have heard this full set up done. Most of my research I have found is guys that pull the heads, and then just go buy a new intake to work for TBI or even carbs. Let me know. Thanks in advance

 

[Cili]

The vortecs will defiantly wake up your engine if you're running some old school heads. I believe most people go tbi or carb bc the vortec injection system is much more complicated and problematic.

 

[sweetk30]

first gen vortec system SUCKED for problems with injector spyders and also low demand for tune up stuff. also stay away from stock plastic intake gaskets . HUGE problems with them . felpro has update style if you ask for them .

 

[dyeager535]

Agreed, forget the Vortec injection stuff. IMO it is a pretty crappy design, I assume made so GM could save money on it.

I have no dog in the fight one way or another, but a Vortec carb intake with a TBI adapter on it, with factory TBI wiring, would be about as close to cheap/plug and play as you are going to get when talking Vortec heads and EFI.

 

[Officer_sloppyjoe]

Agreed, forget the Vortec injection stuff. IMO it is a pretty crappy design, I assume made so GM could save money on it.

I have no dog in the fight one way or another, but a Vortec carb intake with a TBI adapter on it, with factory TBI wiring, would be about as close to cheap/plug and play as you are going to get when talking Vortec heads and EFI.

I would agree with this. I bought the GMPP TBI to vortec intake and new shoty headers for the vortec, most everything else fits. I wish I had picked up the cheaper carbed intake and got an adapter for the TBI.

 

[Kay86K5]

Thanks for all the input guys. i think going the carbed vortec intake with TBI adapter route is what i will prob do. then just do some searching for someone with all the TBI stuff. anyone got some TBI stuff sitting around they want to sell me?

 

[Big Ray]

be aware that the stock vortecs are only good for up to .470 lift...


anything bigger requires some simple headwork (cutting the spring pockets)

here's an informative article clickity


fwiw, a buddy of mine had a vortec injected truck...the condensation from the a/c line dripped on his distributer, gave him lots of grief.

 

[Kay86K5]

There may be a new development here. So, the motor that I was going to pull the heads off of, I may be getting the whole vehicle for pretty much no cost (97 tahoe that acutally runs really good mechanically, body is real ruff, but runs good). So here is my next thought....I think I am just going to swap the entire 5.7 liter vortec motor and the 4l60e into my K5!!! As far as I understand, I am pretty sure the 1st gen vortecs (96-99) would bolt in to my K5's original motor mounts, unless someone else knows different . So I am thinking about pulling the vortec, just going through it to do a fresh up on it and make sure everything looks good (only replace anything that looks like it needs to be), then doing a simple rebuild of the 4l60e cause it does have almost 150,000 miles on it, pulling the wiring harness and computer and start the swap! I know it's a first gen vortec and most guys say to go for a 5.3 or 6.0, but I think the first gen vortecs actually run pretty good. And the biggest thing I care about is fuel injection. I am getting so sick of dealing with carbs, and my truck is continually running like crap even after messing with the carb over and over again, and going through the entire fuel system. Considering this motor/tranny will be pretty much free, this might be the cheapest way I can get fuel injection on my rig, and have it run really smooth. Anyone done the swap into these rigs first hand with a first gen vortec (96-99)???

 

[dyeager535]

Probably going to run into similar issues with the LS series when it comes to emissions stuff, and VSS. Outside of that, the bolting up part should be pretty easy.

I assume a 1990-1991 241 would solve the VSS issue pretty easily.