I used an HEI. No issues with the belt or accessories. I did remove the smog pump and bought a shorter belt and I had to do some mild modification to a bracket or two. I don't remember exactly what I had to do, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Pretty sure it was a matter of bending something with a vise and a hammer and elongating a hole. I remember omitting one of the brackets that I didn't have the patience to make work. Isn't that guy's name Myron Contrell or something? Cool you know him!!!
Hey nice job. I have plans to the same. just want to ask a few things. Did you use the Vortec distributor or the old school HEI. Where than any issues with the belt drive assy. with the carbed intake? I'm in luck as TPIS is in my hometown and the owner was my tech school instructor. so they offered to grind me a cam too. thanks
That's crazy!!! I thought I was the only one left on the planet with a ZZ9. I was very happy with my combo. I could dump the clutch in 2nd gear at a 30 mph roll and spin one tire up to 60 mph and then get a 3rd gear scratch. It was a lot of fun. I miss it. Good luck with yours and I'd like to see videos of it when you get your headers on.
Nice truck... I just started my '77 chev with a 1991 350 in it and changed it to carbureted with open headers... It was LOUD!! I'm eventually going to buy a set of vortec heads and a different cam for it but i ran out of cash before i could... lol
It's probably not really worth the effort, but who am I to tell you what to do. Assuming you have a complete 4.3 vortec with wiring harness and computer, I think the only change you'll have to make to the truck would be to put a different fuel pump in it. TBI's only run like 15 psi, I don't know exactly how much vortec's run, but I'm pretty sure it's more like 40 psi. Obviously the fuel pressure regulator determines you fuel pressure, but there's more than likely a different pump.
@Bajaheat you can, but you need an intake manifold because vortec heads only have 4 bolts on each one to hold the intake down, as opposed to the normal 6 on regular SBC heads
@jowers10 i think you also need to change the heads to vortec ones, because they have a different angle on the intake ports that attach to the intake manifold.
comp cams 26915 beehive springs with titanium retainers. With these springs and retainers and no other change vortec heads can handle like .570 lift, maybe more. I don't remember the exact number when I measured, but it was up there.
it my be a toutch too big, but it's a vacuume secondary to it's not really too noticeable. I actually robbed that carb off of my 454 (see other vids) it now has a 670 street avenger and seems a little happier.
I've never had it dyno'd, but from my parts combo it should be around 375hp maybe a little more. Those '69 parts are spares for my friend's '69 gmc. He turned it from a 3/4 ton long box to a 1/2 ton short box. It can be seen in the November 2008 Hot Rod magazine on page 48.
I've got a '70 Chevy so I knew that grill and fenders right away! lol. But it sounds great, I'm sure I seen it.. looks like I'll have to break out the Hot Rod Masazines again..lol.
My '70 needs work, but I'm getting there, this now is a light driving resto.. Late on down the road when I have better funds and more time I'll do it right. Its not gonna be in Hot Rod anytime soon..lol.
Anyways, Thanks for the reply! Once again great truck!
Sounds good. I have a '97 with the vortec 350. Unlike some of the other people further down the comments page, i understand that what you have there is a Vortec core with the Vortec heads and everything just it has a dif intake to fit the carb instead of the CSFI the Vortecs came with (like mine) or the TBI the older 350's had. I just have headers on mine, no cam or anything yet, i'll prolly keep driving it and wait until the engine dies and then drop in a cammed crate 350 or 383.
the core will remain similar, the difference in the vortec is in the head and it is electronic instead of carberated or throttle boddy, from what i can tell you are using a throttle body injection and not electronic
Are you saying that throttle body injection doesn't use electricity? I think what you mean to say is vortec engines as they came from the factory had port fuel injection. Mine happens to have a carburetor on it (cuz that's the way I built it), but it still uses vortec heads. They are casting #12558062, they have the "sawtooth" pattern on the ends of the heads and the intake bolts on with a total of 8 bolts (4 per side) that go in vertically.
I used an HEI. No issues with the belt or accessories. I did remove the smog pump and bought a shorter belt and I had to do some mild modification to a bracket or two. I don't remember exactly what I had to do, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Pretty sure it was a matter of bending something with a vise and a hammer and elongating a hole. I remember omitting one of the brackets that I didn't have the patience to make work. Isn't that guy's name Myron Contrell or something? Cool you know him!!!
steele454 1 month ago
Hey nice job. I have plans to the same. just want to ask a few things. Did you use the Vortec distributor or the old school HEI. Where than any issues with the belt drive assy. with the carbed intake? I'm in luck as TPIS is in my hometown and the owner was my tech school instructor. so they offered to grind me a cam too. thanks
brian242 1 month ago
WOW. i have the exact same truck with the same cam. the only thing is i dont have headers. but im getting them tomorrow. Same color and everything.
simonmon667 2 months ago
That's crazy!!! I thought I was the only one left on the planet with a ZZ9. I was very happy with my combo. I could dump the clutch in 2nd gear at a 30 mph roll and spin one tire up to 60 mph and then get a 3rd gear scratch. It was a lot of fun. I miss it. Good luck with yours and I'd like to see videos of it when you get your headers on.
steele454 2 months ago in playlist Uploaded videos
how does it like that big of a tbi? what kinda mpg does she pull off? thats about what my ebtup will be but the cam I picked it a bigger
rockinbass01 2 months ago
It actually had a carburetor on it, not a TBI. MPG was in the mid to low teens like 12 or 13 usually
steele454 2 months ago in playlist Uploaded videos
Nice truck... I just started my '77 chev with a 1991 350 in it and changed it to carbureted with open headers... It was LOUD!! I'm eventually going to buy a set of vortec heads and a different cam for it but i ran out of cash before i could... lol
bcboy787 1 year ago
I've got a 4.3 TBI. what all do you have to change to do to a 4.3 vortec conversion?
jowers10 1 year ago
It's probably not really worth the effort, but who am I to tell you what to do. Assuming you have a complete 4.3 vortec with wiring harness and computer, I think the only change you'll have to make to the truck would be to put a different fuel pump in it. TBI's only run like 15 psi, I don't know exactly how much vortec's run, but I'm pretty sure it's more like 40 psi. Obviously the fuel pressure regulator determines you fuel pressure, but there's more than likely a different pump.
steele454 1 year ago
Also check out online message boards, I'm sure there are tons of people out there who have done it and would know more than I whould about it.
steele454 1 year ago
@steele454 ive got a tbi 350 can i throw a set of vortec heads on it or do i have to do more
Bajaheat 9 months ago
@Bajaheat you can, but you need an intake manifold because vortec heads only have 4 bolts on each one to hold the intake down, as opposed to the normal 6 on regular SBC heads
automotiveDIY 3 months ago
@steele454 vortecs run 58-70 psi
automotiveDIY 3 months ago
@jowers10 i think you also need to change the heads to vortec ones, because they have a different angle on the intake ports that attach to the intake manifold.
bcboy787 11 months ago
it run good on pump gas? i jw with the higher compression
bbsombs 1 year ago
Yep. The chambers on the vortec heads are pretty efficient. I even ran 89 in it with no problems.
steele454 1 year ago
@steele454 sweet..........thanks
bbsombs 1 year ago
What kind of valve springs did u end up using for that cam
87montecarlomrc 1 year ago
comp cams 26915 beehive springs with titanium retainers. With these springs and retainers and no other change vortec heads can handle like .570 lift, maybe more. I don't remember the exact number when I measured, but it was up there.
steele454 1 year ago
That carb isn't too big for that motor is it? What size jets are you running in it?
BRBLS1 2 years ago
it my be a toutch too big, but it's a vacuume secondary to it's not really too noticeable. I actually robbed that carb off of my 454 (see other vids) it now has a 670 street avenger and seems a little happier.
steele454 2 years ago
you can never go to big with a carb if you want max performance. just tune it.
sk8forlife90 2 years ago
thats how i drove my 93... open headers. 355 stock cam
monsterchevy88 2 years ago
nice truck its the same color as mine to i got the only truck in town that color
billybadazz11 2 years ago
What's highest compression you can run with vortec heads? Will rv cam work well with the set up?
douger0500 2 years ago
Sounds great! You know what kind of power it has?
Also, seen grill and fenders for a '69 or '70 Chevy truck, great model! One of my all time favorites!
Chevypower265 2 years ago
I've never had it dyno'd, but from my parts combo it should be around 375hp maybe a little more. Those '69 parts are spares for my friend's '69 gmc. He turned it from a 3/4 ton long box to a 1/2 ton short box. It can be seen in the November 2008 Hot Rod magazine on page 48.
steele454 2 years ago
I was figuring about 350hp at least.
I've got a '70 Chevy so I knew that grill and fenders right away! lol. But it sounds great, I'm sure I seen it.. looks like I'll have to break out the Hot Rod Masazines again..lol.
My '70 needs work, but I'm getting there, this now is a light driving resto.. Late on down the road when I have better funds and more time I'll do it right. Its not gonna be in Hot Rod anytime soon..lol.
Anyways, Thanks for the reply! Once again great truck!
Chevypower265 2 years ago
Sounds good. I have a '97 with the vortec 350. Unlike some of the other people further down the comments page, i understand that what you have there is a Vortec core with the Vortec heads and everything just it has a dif intake to fit the carb instead of the CSFI the Vortecs came with (like mine) or the TBI the older 350's had. I just have headers on mine, no cam or anything yet, i'll prolly keep driving it and wait until the engine dies and then drop in a cammed crate 350 or 383.
FlushieJohnson 2 years ago
what kind of intake u used on that
luci4eva09 2 years ago
edelbrock performer rpm for vortec heads.
steele454 2 years ago
Ive always wanted to put vortec heads on my 350 TBI they are such a good built cylinder head
deving68 2 years ago
not a vortec
jaymehann 2 years ago
yes it is. The engine core I used was from a '99.
steele454 2 years ago
the core will remain similar, the difference in the vortec is in the head and it is electronic instead of carberated or throttle boddy, from what i can tell you are using a throttle body injection and not electronic
jaymehann 2 years ago
it just dont loook like a vortec
jaymehann 2 years ago
Are you saying that throttle body injection doesn't use electricity? I think what you mean to say is vortec engines as they came from the factory had port fuel injection. Mine happens to have a carburetor on it (cuz that's the way I built it), but it still uses vortec heads. They are casting #12558062, they have the "sawtooth" pattern on the ends of the heads and the intake bolts on with a total of 8 bolts (4 per side) that go in vertically.
steele454 2 years ago
look at the bolt pattern on top of the valve cover
thatoneguyjosh 2 years ago
87-up valve covers look like that the way u tell if there vortec is if the intake blots go straight down and not at an angle
billybadazz11 2 years ago
VORTEC is the head dipshit i have vortec heads in my van
thatoneguyjosh 2 years ago
i didnt meant to say it isnt a vortec, from first looks at it it looks like a regular 350
jaymehann 2 years ago