Thread: Vortec Head Modifications

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Hi Everyone,
Im looking to modify a set of Vortec heads for oval track racing application. Im trying to make them suitable for my selected camshaft. My cams gross lift is .559. I have read articles on taking the necessary steps to modify the heads for stronger springs and screw in rocker studs, but I havent came across an article where they are trying to acheive this much lift. Dose anyone know if this amount of lift is even possible with the vortec head?? Also, the small block that I have is decked and the piston tops are flush with the deck surface. I am worried about swallowing valves. Is there anything I can do to prevent this??
Thanks,
racermarc18

Check your P to V clearance. Most likely you'll have enough room, If not cut the valve reliefs on the pistons deeper if there is enough material. I run a 406 with the pistons sticking out the deck .012" and run a .062" head gasket, I've got over .125" between the P & V. Good Luck. Oh yeah, I'm running .538, .558 lift.

With a zero deck and a set of FelPro 1003 head gaskets your quench should be just about perfect - .039 or .040.

At the Mid-West nationals in Sprigfile last year I saw sm GM Vortec racing heads. They had center and perimiter valve cover bolt locations and were drilled for both Vortec and conventional intake manifolds. No idea what the price or availability was. The GM guy working the booth was witless.

Several companies offer the tools (cutters) to make the modifications. Check the ads in Chevy High Performance. Or, for the same amount of money you can have a performance oriented machine shop do the work.

Vortec heads are good performers. But they are not as cheap as some folks think. It takes several hundred bucks to get them ready for a high lift cam. If you already have a performance intake and valve covers and are simply upgrading you have to factor in the cost of replacements. Vortec heads also use self aligning rocker arms. If you want to run older rollers you need to machine the heads for guide plates and enlarge the pushrod openings.

Thanks everyone
I'm going to talk with my Cam builder (Bill, at Lazer Cams in Memphis, TN) tomorrow and see what his reccomendations are for springs.
Thanks again for the help,
racermarc18