Question: Vortec Heads

[Marv02]

I am getting ready to replace my engine in my 86 It Has a stock L98 Iron head Motor 148000 miles on it.

I want to go with a 383 replacement power plant.

I priced out parts to re do the L98 to make it where I want it.
But I found I can get a 383 Crate motor with a warenty for the same price what I would pay for parts alone not counting machine work.

The crate motors in my price range have the Vortec heads on the I know I can get a TPI intake manafold for them Or redrill and tap the new heads to get it to work.

Here we go this is a CA car and have to meet smog B/S with the car and what I have read so far the Vortec heads don't have the stuff to work the EGR stuff how do I get around this to get the EGR to work It A CA car.

Pictures would be great.

It's going to be my evrey day driver for a while I going to sell my 2006 Dodge ram to get the wife a new mini van.

This is giving me a excuse to put a new motor and trany into the vett for now.

I planning to drive the Vett for at least 2 years befor ei Buy my self anouther 4 door everyday 25 MPG+ car.

 

[Marv02]

What I want to realy do and you can tell me if this a good or not.

I want to use a 383 botton end. (L98) rebuilt the one I have.
Stock heads do a valve job on them and call them good put a New Crane cam 1600 to 5500 RPM computer cam.

I have new 22 # injectors fro FIC like to use them
Magnaflow Mufflers 2 months old.
The car is not a race car it will be my daliy driver for the next couple years 30 miles each way to work and back.

I don't want a car that suck gas but I want a smouth Idel that I can sit in stop and go trafic.

More Tourqe and Horse Power Is a Big plus.

I on a buget but I will not cut corneres I don't wan't a car that leaves me standing on the side of the road wishing I spent the extra money and now

I have to pull the motor back out and start over agian.
How would you build it iit's going to be a every day car a CA smog car.
With this combo What kind of gains should I get.
Beside making the bank acount smaller.

Thanks

 

[BADDUCK]

You can use any Gen 1 SBC engine and the TPI will bolt right on. All you need is the short block and the set of heads for it. I doesn't make any difference if it's 383 or not. I am assume you will go to hydro roller.

 

[Marv02]

I going with flat Hyd lifter The money issue $200 for flats.
$500 for rollers.

 

[boomdriver]

I going with flat Hyd lifter The money issue $200 for flats.
$500 for rollers.

Theres a reason...
The roller set up is well worth its weight. Reliable, quiet, and with rollers the rockers/springs can be a boost in performance without touching the cam and risking your priceless CA smog.
Roller rockers $250 or less. You gain HP just by having roller valve-train.

Get a valve job done on some alum GM heads,(plenty used available) install roller parts and you have a nice reliable motor that'll run well. Now is also the time to buy a nice forged crank and set rods. Go ahead and stroke it, just do it right with the best possible parts, and above all else, BALANCE the bottom end.

 

[Marv02]

Thank for the input but I not looking to for a race mortor.

The motor in it has 150000 on it now with flat hyd lifters and the stock rockers and they have lasted why not go with a comb that I know that last.

Besides I s heard when the needle bearings go bad in the roller rockers it can cause a big night mare I dont want.

Theres a reason...
The roller set up is well worth its weight. Reliable, quiet, and with rollers the rockers/springs can be a boost in performance without touching the cam and risking your priceless CA smog.
Roller rockers $250 or less. You gain HP just by having roller valve-train.

Get a valve job done on some alum GM heads,(plenty used available) install roller parts and you have a nice reliable motor that'll run well. Now is also the time to buy a nice forged crank and set rods. Go ahead and stroke it, just do it right with the best possible parts, and above all else, BALANCE the bottom end.

 

[Crimson Thunder]

Check out Scoggin-Dickeys web site. They make a TPI lower intake that is compatible with the Vortec Heads. I believe they also have a fix for the EGR problem. A mild 383(or your current 350) with Vortec heads and a TPI would make an excellent daily driver for your Corvette.

 

[Marv02]

Thank you very much learned a lot.

And they have prices I can live with I most likley going be ordering parts though them it the next couple of months.

I realy want a 383 but the cost is the issue a 355 mite be the motor I end up with after all.

I just hoping when I measure the L98 crank and jornals I can just drop anouther set of bearings in them and call it good bore and a new set of Pistons & Rings, Hotter Comp Cam Computer cam Ect and call it good.

Oh Yea a set of Vortec heads combo they sell with there intake.
If I can get 300 HP I be happy.

Check out Scoggin-Dickeys web site. They make a TPI lower intake that is compatible with the Vortec Heads. I believe they also have a fix for the EGR problem. A mild 383(or your current 350) with Vortec heads and a TPI would make an excellent daily driver for your Corvette.

 

[vetteoz]

I realy want a 383 but the cost is the issue a 355 mite be the motor I end up with after all.
I just hoping when I measure the L98 crank and jornals I can just drop anouther set of bearings in them and call it good bore and a new set of Pistons & Rings,

Consider this.
If you are putting new pistons in the only cost difference between building a 383 and a 350 is the cost of a stroker crank ( as low as $170 ) ( some minor grinding on bottom of block for crank clearance needed )
If your existing 350 crank needs machining work to clean up that takes you closer to the cost of a new crank.

 

[Marv02]

Where do you find a crank for $170.00 I dont mean junk a crank that will last years.

I like to put the motor together and forghet about for anouther 150000 miles.

And don't I need diffrent rods to do this change over.

Consider this.
If you are putting new pistons in the only cost difference between building a 383 and a 350 is the cost of a stroker crank ( as low as $170 ) ( some minor grinding on bottom of block for crank clearance needed )
If your existing 350 crank needs machining work to clean up that takes you closer to the cost of a new crank.

 

[vetteoz]

Where do you find a crank for $170.00

Depends if you consider Eagle junk
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ESP-103503750/
or
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ESP-103523750/
if you have 1 pce seal crank

don't I need diffrent rods to do this change over.

No
Same length rods , the 383 pistons take care of the height difference .You have to buy new pistons to do a rebore so you buy correct 383 pistons instead of 350 ones

 

[Marv02]

I learn something new on this fourm all the time.

Thanks alot.

Depends if you consider Eagle junk
Eagle Specialty Products 103503750 - Eagle Cast Steel Crankshafts - Overview - SummitRacing.com
or
Eagle Specialty Products 103523750 - Eagle Cast Steel Crankshafts - Overview - SummitRacing.com
if you have 1 pce seal crank



No
Same length rods , the 383 pistons take care of the height difference .You have to buy new pistons to do a rebore so you buy correct 383 pistons instead of 350 ones

 

[Marv02]

I have to ask around if I have a 1 or 2 piece rear main seal I have a early iron head 1986 L98 motor in mine.

I learn something new on this fourm all the time.

Thanks alot.

 

[BADDUCK]

I have to ask around if I have a 1 or 2 piece rear main seal I have a early iron head 1986 L98 motor in mine.

All 1986's had a 1 piece rear seal. no exceptions or holdovers from 1985.

Hey what happened, I thought when this thread started you just HAD to have a 383. Now maybe not. Also when you started the car was to last two years, now it's got to last 150,000 more miles. What up?

 

[Edmond]

What if he plans on driving 150,000 miles in 2 years?:L

A great alternative for heads are take off heads from the ZZ4 crate motors, you can get them for about $350. They are aluminum as well.

 

[Marv02]

As normal what you want and lot of the time what you get is 2 diffrent things after you start looking in to what it realy going to take money wise to have it.

Lets think Supporting my family Making house payment 2 truck payments food power water trash, cable internet and the list go's on.

I just spent over $7000.00 in the last 2 months on this car to get out of the field and back on the road again.

Oh ya Kids and Wife to pay for we went to Disney Land last weekend for my kids B-Day Money Money Money.

Ya I want a 383 but it going to be better to get a 350.

And you read in to wrong I want to be able to get anouther 150000 out of the rebuilt motor not in 2 years I most likly be using it as a everyday driver for the next 2 years.

I selling my 2006 Dodge truck to get my wife a New Mini Van so I going to use the Vett for a while untill I get around buying my self anouther everyday type car.
We have 2 full size trucks now thats suck Gas we are going to park the 3/4 ton V-10 truck and get a mini Van to haul the kids around in.

What if he plans on driving 150,000 miles in 2 years?:L

A great alternative for heads are take off heads from the ZZ4 crate motors, you can get them for about $350. They are aluminum as well.