blazinbg
Registered Member
I found an ad in craigslist for brand new crate engine with vortec heads. My question is how do I know if they are vortec heads and that they are brand new? help please
CK5
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vortec heads
- Thread starter blazinbg
- Start date
casting # should end in 906 or 062 for Vortec heads also the intake mounting pattern is different theres only 4 bolt hole per head for the intake
I've heard a few bad things about the 906 casting....and good about the 062's....not sure what now, just the numbers stick in my head.
From Chevy High Performance mag.
"For you junkyard hunters, be forewarned that some ¾- and 1-ton trucks came with Vortec heads equipped with a specially hardened exhaust seat that kills low- and mid-lift flow. Casting number 10239906 should be avoided."
From Chevy High Performance mag.
"For you junkyard hunters, be forewarned that some ¾- and 1-ton trucks came with Vortec heads equipped with a specially hardened exhaust seat that kills low- and mid-lift flow. Casting number 10239906 should be avoided."
All my experiance says that 062's are more prone to cracking in the exhaust seat area
Wrench
1/2 ton status
The information about the 906 castings is bogus, both casting numbers were used for the applications with hardened valve seats. You're better off going by application, i.e. get heads from a light duty 5.7. The hardened seat does hurt exhaust flow some, but it's a truck, not a Corvette. Some bowl work will fix it up.
the 906 is the "heavy duty" head correct??? found in 3/4 tons , 1 Tons, and Subs??
You could never pay me enough to use vortecs, hell i wouldn't even take a set if you paid me. EVERY vortec head that has come into my shop has been cracked, mind you i do alot of work for the local car dealers so i've seen many of these heads ALL CRACKED. 
all of the 062 heads I've seen have been off of 305's or 5.7 's that were in 1/2 tons
I've run multiple sets of 906's with no problems ????
I've run multiple sets of 906's with no problems ????
GsxrMike
1/2 ton status
You could never pay me enough to use vortecs, hell i wouldn't even take a set if you paid me. EVERY vortec head that has come into my shop has been cracked, mind you i do alot of work for the local car dealers so i've seen many of these heads ALL CRACKED.
What choice of head would you choose?
How many of them are due to idiot drivers overheating the motors though?
Not saying they all are, the heads are thin, but the set my buddy bought that were broken, came from an admittedly overheated engine.
Not saying they all are, the heads are thin, but the set my buddy bought that were broken, came from an admittedly overheated engine.
There is nothing wrong with factory heads, some people however want the extra HP that the vortec heads can easily achieve but don't sit back and think about how prone to cracking they are. I personally would choose an aftermarket aluminum head (AFR's). Yes they aren't cheap but making HP/TQ never is cheap.
Vortec heads were basically made cracked. It doesn't take a severe overheat for them to crack. Back when vortecs first came out (1996) i was already getting them from the dealer with only a couple thousand miles on them and found them cracked to hell.
MaxPF
1/2 ton status
If you want an equivalent (actually better) head at a similar price, get the Engine Quest Vortec replacements. They're made in Australia, not China, and they are much thicker, have exhaust seat inserts and bronze valve guides, and they outflow Vortecs at all lifts.
There are lots of better heads out there in the aftermarket, But if you can pick up some good Vortecs for cheap they make good streetable power
and honestly other than the cracking issue there probaly the best iron head chevy ever made .
everybody cries " you can only go to .450 lift" but honestly why do you need that much lift on a Truck engine????
for a budget engine I think they serve there place well I'd say if you can get them for 200.00 buy them and run them
and honestly other than the cracking issue there probaly the best iron head chevy ever made .
everybody cries " you can only go to .450 lift" but honestly why do you need that much lift on a Truck engine????
for a budget engine I think they serve there place well I'd say if you can get them for 200.00 buy them and run them
