Can you make 600hp with iron vortec heads?

[PackardV8]

I'm not familiar with any such racing class, but a local builder put together a 383" SBC with iron Vortec heads, single 4-bbl and is claiming 600hp. He's an experienced old-school guy, but that seems steep. Have you done as well or better lately?

[cpmotors]

I'm not familiar with any such racing class, but a local builder put together a 383" SBC with iron Vortec heads, single 4-bbl and is claiming 600hp. He's an experienced old-school guy, but that seems steep. Have you done as well or better lately?

When he says Vortec heads, is he claiming OEM 062/906 castings or Bowtie Vortec castings?
I've made 524hp with OEM 906 castings on a 9.8:1 385ci on pump gas before, but that's a long way from 600hp.

[CamKing]

Fully ported, with big valves, and high compression would make 600hp

[1980RS]

While it is possible to get the factory Vortec heads to go 600hp they will need some chamber mods as explained by DV. Most of it will be welding an area by the intake valve on the quench side as the Vortec head likes too stall on the intake side at about .550 David show how to get them flowing up to .650 and with that mode and a 2.05 valve it's very possible. I have run in the high 10's with the small factory valves and not a lot of porting so I think it can work to get 600hp.

[F-BIRD'88]

Instead of porting a OEM 062 vortec head within a mm of its life. ,start. with a Vortec head that has bigger ports and more meat to carve. (port wall thickness) (deck thicness)

Thats what the GMPP Bowtie Vortec cylinder heads are for.

[PackardV8]

Instead of porting a OEM 062 vortec head within a mm of its life. ,start. with a Vortec head that has bigger ports and more meat to carve. (port wall thickness) (deck thicness) Thats what the GMPP Bowtie Vortec cylinder heads are for.

Thanks, all. I often suggest the OP didn't provide enough info. I'll have to come back to you with clarification. IIRC, I was told this class didn't allow porting, required OEM iron heads, but since I haven't seen the rules, maybe GMPP heads are the answer. More at eleven.

[prairiehotrodder]

on nitro or maybe nitrous ?

I wouldn't say its impossible, but i have a 423 with aFr 245's thats not making 600

[compguy]

If you have the large port Bowtie Vortec iron heads professionally ported by someone who knows how to do them, 650 to 700+ is attainable even on small 310 cube small blocks.
062 Vortec 'street' heads, no.

[1980RS]

I just sold my Large Port Vortec heads a couple of weeks ago. While I did get them into the 285cfm range I decided to get some aluminum heads to pull some weight off the front end of the car and it also might make it possible to run higher compression with pump gas.

[af2]

I'm not familiar with any such racing class, but a local builder put together a 383" SBC with iron Vortec heads, single 4-bbl and is claiming 600hp. He's an experienced old-school guy, but that seems steep. Have you done as well or better lately?

Larry is the one to ask Maxrace. I have seen some of his work on our left coast and it is like jewelry. I believe he has been well above the 600 mark but I would never want to invest in that deal$$$$$$$$$

[skinny z]

I'm not familiar with any such racing class, but a local builder put together a 383" SBC with iron Vortec heads, single 4-bbl and is claiming 600hp. He's an experienced old-school guy, but that seems steep. Have you done as well or better lately?

How highly strung is acceptable?
Drag Week durability or Power Tour? Without swapping out valve springs for street duty.
How about highway driving 20 minutes to the drag strip?

Not sure how some of the preceding posts would stack up.

[compguy]

I just sold my Large Port Vortec heads a couple of weeks ago. While I did get them into the 285cfm range I decided to get some aluminum heads to pull some weight off the front end of the car and it also might make it possible to run higher compression with pump gas.

Damn. I am looking for a second set (or even one new one, I have a spare) of large port Iron Vortecs for a spare engine.
Part #: 25534445 (bare head) or 19331473. Casting #: 25534371C. 'C' is the third and last revision.
Maybe someone has a new or unmolested head or a pair of them for sale?

By the way, they will go over 320cfm...my first set has over that across the board.

[1980RS]

I just sold my Large Port Vortec heads a couple of weeks ago. While I did get them into the 285cfm range I decided to get some aluminum heads to pull some weight off the front end of the car and it also might make it possible to run higher compression with pump gas.

Damn. I am looking for a second set (or even one new one, I have a spare) of large port Iron Vortecs for a spare engine.
Part #: 25534445 (bare head) or 19331473. Casting #: 25534371C. 'C' is the third and last revision.
Maybe someone has a new or unmolested head or a pair of them for sale?

By the way, they will go over 320cfm...my first set has over that across the board.

The guy paid big bucks for the LP Vortec heads as they had the Hollow intakes and sodium exhaust valves in them. Got 2K for the pair.

[vortecpro]

I'm not familiar with any such racing class, but a local builder put together a 383" SBC with iron Vortec heads, single 4-bbl and is claiming 600hp. He's an experienced old-school guy, but that seems steep. Have you done as well or better lately?

Larry is the one to ask Maxrace. I have seen some of his work on our left coast and it is like jewelry. I believe he has been well above the 600 mark but I would never want to invest in that deal$$$$$$$$$

YES

[vortecpro]

If you have the large port Bowtie Vortec iron heads professionally ported by someone who knows how to do them, 650 to 700+ is attainable even on small 310 cube small blocks.
062 Vortec 'street' heads, no.

When you get the welder out almost anything is possible......