hello all , I found this forum by accident , I was looking for information on 96 7.4 vortec heads and wound up looking here and reading threads for 4 hours so I thought I would join in the fun , the heads are for my tow vehicle "bubba " I have had him since new ( special ordered from Chevrolet) hes a C 3500 standard cab with a 7.4l Vortec , l480 (MT1) trans and towing package (HD cooling and 4:10's ) has 120k on the motor and only had 2 major failures in the last 10 years , 1. the govenor in the LS unit decided not to stay and took apart the rear end ( waranteed) and the camshaft lost the distibutor gear at 100K ( possible cause is too heavy of oil 15w40 rotella T,I normally ran Mobile 1 or Royal purple ) so I replaced the cam (crane hyd roller) ,timing chain and oil pump, replaced the oil pan with a Milodon unit (1 extra quart )P&P'd the intake manifold, pulled the screens on the MAS , put on a set of harland sharp rollers , put on edlebrock tubular manifolds and removed the factory muffler and replaced it with dual 3" flowmasters to the back (factory location for dumps) off the factory cats. getting 6 mpg better and alot quicker of the line . but the other reason is my car that is in the process of being built by me , A 1981 T/A that was going to the crusher , I am converting into a super class car I don't like the 81's front end so I am applying a 76 front end on it ( from my old street racer ) the car has been in the works now for 2 years hope to have it done by next season . itsgoing to e powered by pontiac ( have several motors to choose from from 350 to 462 )