StreetnStrip

iTrader: (7)

Hot cam kit work in my 98 fullsize chevy truck. Its the 5.7 vortec and I was wondering if the springs will fit right on my vortec heads. Will there be any machine work needed for the valve springs being the heads are vortec ehads not LT4 or LT1 heads

joking511

iTrader: (5)

Yes . You might have to change the pin in the front .

bowtie notch

you will lt4 springs won't work without macine work, but beehives will.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

You might want to do a whole lot more research. I met a guy at the track with a HOT cammed 2wd LT1ed Chevy with heads and he was just 1-2 tenths faster than my smaller cammed no header Caprice with him on slicks. Once I did headers I am MUCH faster. The Vortec heads are standard coolant flow copies of the iron b-body LT1 heads, your vehicle weight is closer to that of mine(4300lbs. race weight) so you would probably better off looking to the b-body crowd for advise than the f-body just because it is closer to what you are actually doing. On the LT4 springs they work on the LT4 heads with the HOT cam because the LT4 Valves are lighter, with regular valves they are really marginal.
Also consider a HOT cam in 4000+lbs. in a b-body with 27" tire requires a bare minimum 2400 stall and 3.42s with 2800/3.73s being better, I would expect your weight to be similar and your tires to be taller. I would suggest a different cam like the GMPP 845 or Crane 210/224, both will benifit from gear and stall but will not rquire so much.

bowtie notch

none of that info is gonna help him. the springs won't work without machine work end of story.

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

See there is the problem people reset a REAL complete answer. Some guys have had the LT4 springs fit the iron LT1 heads which the Vortecs are modled after so by your logic the correcty answer is maybe and that ignores the fact that even if they fit they are a poor choice. Sometimes it is the questions not asked that need answering.

Actually now that I look you dredged this up from WAY back in the archives so it is probably way too late for any of us to help him.

SStrokerAce

iTrader: (2)

Actually he's right not you.

The Bowtie Vortec heads don't need any maching to get a set of springs on the heads, they come assembled with the LT4 springs out of the box.

The stock OEM Vortec heads that are on his truck can't take a LT4 (12551483) spring without cutting the spring pockets for them.

They are NOT THE SAME CASTINGS WITH A DIFFERENT WATER PASSAGE as the LT1 Iron heads. They might have similar port cores and chambers but the overall casting is not the same.

Please don't jump on someones nuts when you don't know something for sure.

Bret

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

I should have said based on the iron LT1 heads not copies, you got me there. Don't know where you came up with the Bowtie Vortec reference and I did agree that the springs most likely wouldn't fit(in saying only some found them to actually fit) and went a step further in saying even if they did they were a poor choice.

You spend enough time on forums that I am sure you will agree that it is often the case that the question NOT ASKED is the one that needs answering.

roughneck427

iTrader: (12)

First off on the vortec heads there is not enough retainer to guide clearence on them,If he goes and sticks the hotcam in even with 1.5 rockers the retainers are going to smash the valve guide the vortecs in stock trim are only good for cams up to .480 lift machining work will be required to cut the guide down for proper clearence.I know all this because i had vortecs on my 71 camaro

bowtie notch

it was actually my truck he was talking about!!! and the spring diameters are not the same. the vortecs are 1.255 and the lt4 are 1.47 or something llike that. so the spring seats/pockets as do the tops of the guides for clearance. i'm using a stock lt1 cam now, and want to go bigger. sam who started the thread also said they would fit. i told him he was wrong, so he started this thread for an answer.

GIZMO

iTrader: (8)

LT4 valve spring 12551483, 1.32" dia, 101 lbs @ 1.78" (installed), 332 lbs (open). The dimensions are pretty much the same as the LT1 spring. The retainer to guide clearence would be your biggest problem. If you go to the trouble of pulling the heads, I would update them to LT1 style screw in studs. A little bowl work will help them out alot.

Daren

96lt1m6

iTrader: (31)

i don't think that that is all that true my buddy had a 97 tahoe 2wd and he put the zz4 cam in it and had no problems at all 474/510 112* 3.73s a 3000 stall and a 150 shot bustin 12s all day on 20" wheels(headers true duals w/bullet cats and flomasters)1.8 60's

96lt1m6

iTrader: (31)

i know that there are 2 types of votecs for production trucks so that very well could be a difference..
1 set has the ^^^ on the end and the other set does not.the 3 pyramids are what was on his tahoe and 2500 p/u...