Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific Mouse & Rat Motor Discussion & Conversions

Heads?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 12:13 AM
  #1  
southern69chevy's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default Heads?

Alright I'm build a 350 and I'm wanting to hit some where between 425-500 hp. I'm on a tight budget and I was looking at the cast iron heads like the vortec and 186 castings. It's going to be a street/strip car. I know I won't hit 500 hp on cheap iron heads but I figured if I shot for it I would land in the 450 range. So, basically what would be the Best cheap *** head to get the numbers I'm wanting.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:06 AM
  #2  
1997bird's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 0
From: Aztec, NM
Default

What kind of parts do you have for your 350? How much can you get the different heads for?
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:19 AM
  #3  
1_bad_TA's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Default

Start with a good casting and do a home port and polish. Put a set of 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves in with a 3 angle valve job. If the budget is there, have them milled slightly depending on what the chamber size is. Milling them a bit will help boost compression or you could run a thinner head gasket. Good luck with the build.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 03:56 AM
  #4  
ZONES89RS's Avatar
In-Zane Moderator
15 Year Member
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,941
Likes: 33
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

Well, a 350 with a stroker crank and flat tops with vortecs can make 450 HP and 500 ft lbs torque, enough to make you smile, but as for buying a set of heads, porting, polishing, studs, guidplates, big valves and all, you can usually get a set of dart iron eagles already done for 800$. Hard to want to put that into a thin casting vortec, even if you port them yourself you will not do as good as a pro porter will.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 10:10 AM
  #5  
cncbird's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Duncan, Oklahoma
Default

Patriot makes a Vortec style head that has bigger runners than stock Vortec's & comes with 2.02-1.60 valves for less than $700.
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 08:07 PM
  #6  
southern69chevy's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by cncbird
Patriot makes a Vortec style head that has bigger runners than stock Vortec's & comes with 2.02-1.60 valves for less than $700.
Has anybody used these heads?
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 08:14 PM
  #7  
southern69chevy's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

Which is a better head vortec or the 186?
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 10:30 AM
  #8  
cncbird's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Duncan, Oklahoma
Default

The vortec is a much better head.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 06:55 PM
  #9  
southern69chevy's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by cncbird
The vortec is a much better head.
Don't vortec's only allow like .500 lift?
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 08:42 PM
  #10  
SoxXpupPeT's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 1
From: Yonkers, NY
Default

Originally Posted by southern69chevy
Don't vortec's only allow like .500 lift?
i think stock is around .460 or so. with screw in studs and new springs i think you can get around .500

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...u&RC=100#rstop

you have plenty of choices
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 10:39 PM
  #11  
southern69chevy's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by SoxXpupPeT
i think stock is around .460 or so. with screw in studs and new springs i think you can get around .500

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...u&RC=100#rstop

you have plenty of choices
Cool well hopefully I'll get close to 450 hp or so.
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2008 | 11:02 PM
  #12  
SoxXpupPeT's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,431
Likes: 1
From: Yonkers, NY
Default

Originally Posted by southern69chevy
Cool well hopefully I'll get close to 450 hp or so.
i dont doubt it. there are afew budget vortec builds around.

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ild/index.html

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...ock/index.html

theres one of them. i had found afew websites talking about the vortec heads and how great they are, when i was going to build up a small block for my impala. there the best bang for the buck!
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:32 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE