Thread: vortec heads on my boat?

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i have a boat, its a 1989 arriva with a 5.0lx mercruiser 230 hp. (305 cid sbc). anyhow i burnt a valve and was wondering if rather than get a valve job on these heads... maybe i could but on some vortec heads???? i know of a set from a 1998 350 with 64cc chambers 1.94/1.5 valves and 170cc intake port that i may be able to pick up. i can't seem to find the specs on my heads but i measured the valves and they are 1.82/1.5 my question is... is there any reason these wouldn't work? i know i'd need a new intake and was thinking about the edelbrock performer. would this be a good combination for my boat?

thanks to all that advise! i'm brand new here and think i'm gonna need a little help with this project. i'm a carpenter not a mechanic...

thanks again

they will lower the compression, stock compression on a 305 is normally 9.5:1, you'd drop to 8:1 approx. get another set of 305 heads.