Thread: cylinder heads

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Hello everyone. this looks like a great site. just getting back into four wheel fun.(eight year old daughter talked me into it have a small block I purchased this morning(short block) it is a 1995 to 2000 350 ci. (10243880)one piece main, roller valve train and flat top pistons. my searchs tell me it is a "crate motor" or a ZZ4 motor. my question is this, I have a set of old(1973) 194 heads I have saved forever. will they bolt on this block, and if so, will the push rods I have with them(also 1973) fit this application? any info is greatly appreciated. I am old school(46) and have spent the last 25 years playing with and working on motorcycles, these new motors look good on paper and I have been told it's the "way to go" thanks again to all. Stephen

Welcome. I am just playing around with my first Chev 350 myself, so I am far from an expert, but everything I hear is that the Vortec heads your motor came with are really good. That is what I have on the engine I plan to rebuild for my project.

Someone on here will know for sure, though. Nice to see your Daughter is a budding hot rodder. Funny what kids make us do, huh?


Don

PS; You KNOW she is going to pick out the color for your car, don't you? And GUESS what it is going to be??????

it's actually a 78 Chevy shortbed step side pickup. the color will be yellow, yuk! It's for taking her quad and dirtbike out to the desert. it has a bench seat so she can sit next to me.

sounds like you're starting off with a fun project.... and Don is right, the vortec heads will make you happier, you'll get more power.... you can get intake manifolds for the vortects that allow a carb to be mounted on top... it'd make for a fun motor...

Hello again to all. thanks for the info concerning the Vortec heads. but as i stated, I purchased a short block, no heads. I wanted to know if my old 194's will fit on this new style block. but again, thanks for the info.
perhaps i should find a set of these vortec heads and call it good.

the heads will bolt on yes.... i'm not positive about pushrod length being the same, but thats easy to measure and order some in the length, most companys make them to fit for like $10 more than just a standard length

Push rods are NOT the same length. Roller lifters have a 7.122 inch long pushrod while the older flat faced lifters use a 7.724 inch long pushrod. For the rocker arms, you either
need guided rockers or non-guided rockers......how to tell?

Earlier heads used the head casting to guide the pushrods OR they used
stamped metal guide plates that bolted under the rocker studs. They can be identified by the rather narrow pushrod slots.

Later model heads (including the Vortec heads that you dont have but everyone wants you to) have larger holes thru the heads.....this was done at the same time that roller lifters came into being. Instead of guiding on the head, the pushrod is guided (side to side) by a slot on the valve end of the rocker.....since the pushrod fits into a pocket on all chevy rockers, they guide the rocker side to side play on the valve side.....

So, if you look at the underside of the rockers, you will either see a flat surface for the valve tip contact OR you will see a depression (slot). If your heads came with rockers, use the same style that was on them and you will probably be OK.

DO NOT put guided rockers on a guided head....you will discover push rod bind, a term that promotes bad words and thrown tools.

guided on left, old style on right

Hello again to all. thanks for the accurate info. next question, (I know, what an idiot) what would be the results of putting 305 vortec heads on a 350 vortec motor? is it do able, is it to tight on the compression end of it and is the smaller intake valves that much of a hinderence to flow on a 350? a local dirt track racer and customer is moving and has kindly donated for the sum of ($20.00) a set of these heads. if nothing else I now have a full set of springs and rocker arms for a set of vortec heads. He informed me that the pocket next to the intake valve needs to be opened up a "little". but will work great. lots of power! I'm nervous. besides what do you use for an intake? thanks again...Stephen

305 heads can be made to work great on 283's and 305's, but they will not flow the air a 350 will generate. They will raise the compression and hinder performance, but they will work on a 350 as long as you don't plan on revving over 4000 rpm.

Stephen, I made a mistake about push rod lengths and corrected it in my post above...sorry for the mis information

the post now reads correctly

mike in tucson