Vortec Head conversion Q's

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dR. jEckLe

New member
Is there any consenus or advice on how to fill the space created betweeen the lower manifold and the block when converting to the vortec heads?

I have an extra lower manifold should I just adapt the manifold to the heads?

I emailed PTE about the adapters and they did not respond where else can they be obtained, does anyone else sell them or have extras/measurements??

Any tips and or advice to save headaches/time/money would be apprieciated..Thanks


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: dR. jEckLe on 2001-11-27 02:24 ]</font>
 
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smeagol

Active member
Don't email PTE, call 'em. They have 3-3 people there on the phones full time. Email is kinda foreign to 'em :wink:

Jerry McCoy can also help you bolt 'em up.

Brian G
 
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ALLTRAC

New member
I have some digital pics of my intake if someone wants to post them for me I can email them to you. I used phenolic on the sides and bottom of the intake.

Ryan
 
jwaller

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
IMO dont use adaptor plates. it makes for a huge gap between the inake and the lower intakes. just weld the lower to port match it to the heads. The gap if you use spacers is around 1/2 in.
 
D

dR. jEckLe

New member
I have seen the intructions on tyclone.com and they are invaluable but I think they just put a bead of sealer between the gap. I dont want to do that.

BG what did you do when you installed your vortecs? thanks

Alltrac thoe pictures would be great could you send them to ukau99@Earthlink.com thanks

jwaller could you elaborate a little more on the welding? thanks
 
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smeagol

Active member
I welded mine, had them machined flat, then ported the intake to match (best I could, there was still a huge mismatch). The more time you spend adding material and porting, the better IMO, since the mismatch between the intake and the Vortec head ports is BIG. I took a lot of material out around the injector bung.

I didn't like the idea of the spacer plate either, which is why I went thru the hassle of welding and such, but the welding is a pain in the ass, and the spacer plate setup is working on many trucks now.

Brian G
 
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JoeLutz

New member
Hs anyone tried just using the Vortec intake and making new intercooler piping to plumb to the new throttlebody? I wonder if there would be any benifits or drawbacks to using the Vortec intake manifold. The throttle body may be smaller, not sure. Could our injectors be mated to this manifold? Or is the 4.3 Vortec like the v8 with a central injector?

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: joeelutz on 2001-11-27 14:44 ]</font>
 
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SPEEDFREAK

New member
Joe I think the intake you are talking about is the tuned port type intake that came on the 4.3 in 9-'s to 96's the other intake is a tbi intake with the tb sitting on top like a carb. I belive it is the intake that is ment to be used with these heads in standard application. Please someone correct me if I am wrong so I can learn also.
 
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smeagol

Active member
Been down that road. The TPI style intake is on the L35 heads (93-95), and it used a single, or two, TBI injectors with individual poppet valves at the intake to head junction. That is why L35 heads have a little 'nipple' at the top of the intake runner. Not at all worthwhile for our applications, but it is a very interesting intake. The 96+ Vortec heads are way different, and use a much different intake. It is some sort of plastic and it is NOT port fuel injection using 6 individual injectors. Makes it kinda impossible to use in our app. There is a cast iron intake that is made to use a carburetor for the Vortecs, but it looks like it would be difficult to make it work for port fuel injection as well. Plus it IS cast iron..not light...

The search is still on. GM did make ONE awesome intake that would work great in our application. It was a proto Ramjet 4.3 motor, using the same sort of intake the Ramjet 350 used, with port fuel injection and a single large throttle body. It bolted up to Vortec heads, and was screaming FORCED INDUCTION. Unfortunately, it looks like this motor isn't going to be made. That intake would be ideal. Heck, even if they did make it you might not be able to get your hands on it. I'm not sure you can get the Ramjet 350 intake if you wanted *just* the intake.

Brian G
 
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JoeLutz

New member
Brandon, Yea I was talking about the TPI.

With the advances in thermoset plastics, it looks like people would start building molds to make custom plastic intakes, like GM is doing. Gotta be lighter than alluminum and probably beter heat transfer properties.
 
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smeagol

Active member
Posted Ryan's pictures on our site.

http://www.chitownsyty.com tech -> Vortec head link

I am still searching for pictures of my intake & the work I did on it.

I'd like to see some links or information on the marine intake that is PFI to fit the Vortec heads.

Brian G
 
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Zac

New member
On 2001-11-27 18:50, Red Canyonero wrote:

I'd like to see some links or information on the marine intake that is PFI to fit the Vortec heads.
Click to expand...

I was looking for info on this earlier today. These are some of the links I found. No Pic's of the PFI intake though.

Carb version:
http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/engines_marine/43_main.htm

Marine EFI info:
http://www.gm.com/automotive/gmpowertrain/engines_marine/mar_efi.htm

Maybe someone else can give more info.

Zac

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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Zac on 2001-11-27 20:10 ]</font>
 
J

JoeLutz

New member
The Marine 4.3 Vortec in the pic looks like it has a carb intake. The features say its available with TBI, but nothing about PFI. Did I overlook a PFI setup somewhere?
 
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ALLTRAC

New member
I got my phenolic at a local plastics company. If you want to find it localy your best chance is just to call around.

Ryan
 
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