i bought some vortec heads for my 350 i know i need a new intake and roller rockers
(self aligne).... but is that all i need?
do i need guide plates?

you need self-aligning rockers, they dont have to rollers. You will not need guideplates if you use that type of rocker. With that said, you should do a search for "vortec heads" under the engine topic and hi-performance topic. Everything that could be covered with the swap is in there.

look on ebay. you can buy a set of self aligning rollers for around 150-160.

Other than intake and rockers, you also need valve covers. That is about it, other than making sure your retainer to valve guide clearance will handle your cam lift. http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

Oh, you also need to change springs ($25 for drop ins). The stock Vortec springs are only about 80-90 psi on the seat and a performance flat tappet hydraulic cam needs 125-135 on the seat. A set of $25-30 Z/28 springs will hook you up!

[This message has been edited by 1978LT (edited April 11, 2005).]

THNX GUYS

Powerhouse sell's stock replacement type, 1.60 ratio Vortec roller tipped rockers for like $90 if I remember right??

I figure darn good value for MY hard-earned buck, imho!!

pdq67

I have a set of stockers if you want to get away cheap!

Sorry to drag up an old post, but I have a complete factory vortec roller motor that I want to rob the heads off of (the motor itself has a rod knock). Will the rockers from that motor work? and will they work with any cam or do I need a different type of cam for the roller rockers? Thanks for answering these questions, I'm trying to get confidence to tear into a perfectly good motor for the sake of more power. (Ive never gotten into a motor at all!!)

Guided rockers CAN NOT be used with heads that have pushrod slots OR pushrod guide plates b/c they will cause the p/r's to bind due to being located at two places!!

Vortec heads have p/r assembly guide plates, (I think?), that don't actually guide the p/r's as well as the p/r slots are not usable b/c they are too big if they are even slotted and not just cast as holes.

pdq67

Probably cheaper just to have your machine shop hook you up with screw in studs and guideplates and use your current rockers. I believe there are also adapters to use your old valve covers instead of centerbolt ones.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by pdq67:

Vortec heads have p/r assembly guide plates, (I think?), that don't actually guide the p/r's as well as the p/r slots are not usable b/c they are too big if they are even slotted and not just cast as holes.

pdq67 </font>

No, you are thinking of the late 1980's Corvette aluminum heads with the 'guide plates'.

Vortecs use a guided-rail rocker and a small pushrod hole in the head to locate the pushrod. That small hole should be elongated slightly for higher lift cams. I did mine just to be safe because there is very little clearance around the pushrod there.



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'Silver Bullet' 1977 Z-28 413" SB
11.73 @ 115.10 on drag radials
Old Vortec combo:
12.15 @ 110.52

Studs and guideplates it is. Maybe some better springs as well. Thanks for the help.

Adapter to convert to old valve covers is $140- . I bought new center bolts.

I know they are expensive, but you might find used ones on ebay cheap; also for those that have visual smog checks they are a must.