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Post by irocvirrilli on Aug 17, 2007 12:29:15 GMT -5
I just got my engine from brandon, it's that 1968 block and i wanted to know of any good machine shops that you guys recommend, keep in mind it's gotta be cost efficient and if they worked for you then i'm definitely going ot belive you guys. I have the heads for it but i was thinking of buying a set of vortec heads as a set for 600 bucks, but i was wondering if for now the heads being machined and ported would work jsut as fine i know there not as badass as vortec but it's prolly cheaper. also i need to get new pistons for the .30 bore job, i saw a set on jegs or 15 bucks per piston, any suggestions on that? also there isn't any of the valvetrain on the block i belive so could i use some of the stuff from my old engine or is it smarter and cheaper to but the complete set from cms or summit. another thing about it, i gotta get the heads to work with tpi so yea keep your eyes peeled for any pre-86 350 intake manifolds for the tpi set up
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Post by Lucid on Aug 17, 2007 14:02:40 GMT -5
The stock TPI intake will not bolt onto a Vortec head, unless you have a machine shop drill out the bolts that match the Vortec bolt pattern.
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Post by cantalopekid on Aug 17, 2007 16:40:19 GMT -5
I just got my engine from brandon, it's that 1968 block and i wanted to know of any good machine shops that you guys recommend, keep in mind it's gotta be cost efficient and if they worked for you then i'm definitely going ot belive you guys. I have the heads for it but i was thinking of buying a set of vortec heads as a set for 600 bucks, but i was wondering if for now the heads being machined and ported would work jsut as fine i know there not as badass as vortec but it's prolly cheaper. also i need to get new pistons for the .30 bore job, i saw a set on jegs or 15 bucks per piston, any suggestions on that? also there isn't any of the valvetrain on the block i belive so could i use some of the stuff from my old engine or is it smarter and cheaper to but the complete set from cms or summit. another thing about it, i gotta get the heads to work with tpi so yea keep your eyes peeled for any pre-86 350 intake manifolds for the tpi set up Edelbrock makes a lower intake manifold that will work with the Vortec heads you desire. It is rather expensive though for just a lower manifold piece @ 459.95! OUCH! Comp Cam XE268H or 260XFI H-13 would be a nice start if you stay TPI. OR (sacreligiously) you could always dump the TPI to go carburated. This would allow you to use a much larger camshaft and skip any computer tuning issues & additional expense you may incur by mixing aftermarket cam/fuel injection. Pistons recommend Federal Mogul Speed-Pro Hypereutectic as they are great quality, have coated skirts, and a good inexpensive entry level performance piston. 9.73:1 w/ 64cc head using part # 8KH100CP 30 (Pistons/Rings) or 8KH631CP 30. Well I have to go home to prepare for all you to come get crazy at my place so hope this helps and see you folks soon!
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Post by irocvirrilli on Aug 17, 2007 20:17:38 GMT -5
i was tempted to buy that intake a while back from jegs but that shizzle is hugely expensive. i think i'll get my intake drilled out which osounds awesome, and thanks for the pistons i heard about those but never had anyone comment on em. now it's jsut time to search for a good machine shop and save up for my vortecs
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Post by White84z on Aug 17, 2007 22:09:32 GMT -5
Keep in mind that if you have the stock tpi base drilled the ports will not match, meaning you will have a huge gap to fill. Vortec heads flow so much better than the old style because they have taller runners than the models before them. I would suggest buying the stealth ram intake for vortec heads from summit for 359.95. You get better flow than your stock tpi and better yet, its compatable with almost everything except your egr stuff and cold start injector. When it comes to vortec heads, i know a fair deal. Im using them on my engine build, so ive done extensive research about them to find out what they can and cant do. If i were you, i would get a pre 87 base and use it for now, and when you got the money get the vortecs... even brand new there only 280$ each and they give you a nice power boost from what you got. I got mine with my engine that i only payed 150$ for. Slap on a set of comp cam beehive springs and they are good for .550" lift. Porting cast iron vortecs isnt going to do much good, they are for the most part optimized. If you need more flow, summit has large port designs for 340$ each which flow much better. As for the maching shop, a friend of mine uses Longs machine, and ive had some work done by spreen in boerne... which is pretty fairly priced. Corey
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Post by Lucid on Aug 18, 2007 2:43:47 GMT -5
I hear you can put an LT1 intake on the 350 and get improved breathing with a loss of torque for a gain of horsepower. You can even use the same throttle body and some of the other parts.
The LT1 TPI intakes a damn cheap nowadays and i think thats where they got the idea for the Stealth Ram.
Check this out: Ebay item# 130144254295
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Post by White84z on Aug 18, 2007 12:33:56 GMT -5
The Lt1 Intake Can be modified to fit 87 and later heads, but its not easy to make it fit. You have to fill some bold holes with JB weld and modify the coolant passages. You also have to drill the hole for the distributer and distributer hold down...so far all i have seen this used one is mostly stock style 87 and later heads and a select few pre 87 setups. They way i see it, with all the time and headaches you will have with this intake, the stealth ram is a better choice.
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robert84ta
New Member
Voodoo is an evil, fast, and hardcore bird of prey
Posts: 24
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Post by robert84ta on Aug 18, 2007 13:54:28 GMT -5
actually they do make a few lt1's that have a distributer whole on the top, actually alot, if im correct lt1's out of camaros and tas have a disributer whole in the back, like a sbc but it is capped off. but yes they do make them so you dont have to drill it
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Post by White84z on Aug 18, 2007 22:43:06 GMT -5
I have yet to see a lt1 intake with a cast distributer hole in it. The reason i say this is because all lt1 motors have the distributer placed behind the water pump... aka the optispark destributer. Instead of being driven by the gear on the back of the cam its driven by a pin that is located on the front of the cam. Lt1 intakes are also shorter than the standard sbc intake, hence why people who mod lt1 intakes use a 1/4" spacer to make the distributer fit right. other than reverse coolant flow, the front mounted distributer is what makes a lt1 different from the other sbc. Im not posting this to argue, im posting this so he doesnt try to hunt down an intake that doesnt exist. Here is a link showing the nasty gap you will get trying to fit a non vortec intake on a vortec head. The head shown is th GMPP fast burn heads which are drilled for both vortec and non vortec intakes... but why have the holes is the only somewhat fit. www.lt1intake.com/images/vortec1.jpg
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Post by irocvirrilli on Aug 19, 2007 1:31:08 GMT -5
the set up me and brandon talked about is a set of speed pro pistons .30 over, vortec heads which i've always wanted and the base plate for the vortec tpi set up either holley, lingefelter, or edelbrock jsut depends on the cash flow. As far as lt1 stuff, i'm going for the sleeper look, still looks stock on top only the internals are majorly modded past stock. i'm gonna have the engine machined at jenke, my boss had both his vette and nova engines built there and he runs those things every weekend so i'm gonna that route. thanks guy's
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Post by Lucid on Aug 19, 2007 4:04:31 GMT -5
That sucks the LT1 intake will not bolt up to the Vortecs, i really liked that idea... Vortecs are some awesome heads.
Becareful buying used SLP runners, i have heard problems with these from a quality stand point. Its not that you cant find a good set, most of them are really good, its just sometimes they have minor flaws or cracks.
Now for the vortecs.... good luck finding a Vortec TPI manifold for cheap, i seen them a few times on ebay.
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Post by irocvirrilli on Aug 20, 2007 13:15:28 GMT -5
yea, i'm selling the 84 after we do the rearend swap and throw some new heads on it, a guy will pay 1200 for it running so thats my engine money
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