What's the deal with this vortec?

[91GMCSuburban]

I found a 5.7 vortec motor from a 99 1-ton box van for sale, $500. When I went to see it, it had the vortec intake and marking on the back of the block that said 5.7, but the heads did not have the 3 "shark teeth" markings that I thought all L31 heads had.

What gives?

 

[NJBLZ]

see if this helps... go to the bottom of this link from Salee Chevrolet. There is a warning about buying used vortecs since there were some variations. It doesn't say anything about heads without the shark teeth or "sawtooth" though. http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/Cylinder_Heads/Vortec.html

 

[91GMCSuburban]

That does help. Not going to go for it, too risky.

 

[beater_k20]

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.

this statement was later retracted by Chevy High Performance magazine, and Jeff Smith. i'd say go for it. whatever difference the seats may have can easily be eliminated with a die grinder. sounds like a great deal to me, i would go for it!

 

[mo]

I never heard of/seen any vortec heads w/out the teeth

 

[beater_k20]

i own a pair of 906s, no saw teeth.

 

[91GMCSuburban]

well, in an attempt to figure this out, I ran across another motor out of 98 Tahoe $400. Thanks for all your help.


Gene