Vortec Heads

[Ghostrider]

G'day All,

I have a set of Vortec Heads for my Gev VI 454. Are they any good? I haven't actually seen them yet as they are fresh out of the shop.

Are they rectangle or oval port and what is the best inlet to match for a Crane 741 cam and a BG Demon 850 carb with IMCO exhaust trying for around 480-500 hp?

Thanks lads,
John.

[bcarpman]

With a good porting job, Vortec heads are a good upgrade for a 330hp 454. Especially if you want some fuel economy as well. I made 460hp with a set of them, but I think that's about all they have in them. They are oval port and flow horribly out of the box.

[Ghostrider]

Thanks mate!
I've confirmed they are a large oval port design with some mild additional porting for flow. Doesn't help the fact I've got a rectangle port RPM air-gap at home now but hey! If I upgrade heads later I've got an inlet already!
I've just read Dennis Moore's book on Marine BBC's. Very helpful. I think I'll give these heads a chance and punish them to see what they can really do. Apparently the exhaust profile is pretty good so I'll work some more on the inlet path and see what it gets me.
As I said, I'm aiming for around 500hp to start so I may have some work to get there yet.
What's an 0.040" over 454 anyway???

Man I love this stuff, so much more interesting than TV!