I'm in the process of putting together a sbc 350 (how original). I ran across an add in the local buy sell for a set of vortec heads for $800 Canadian. He said that they are off an 98/99 Suburban that was wrecked and he wanted the engine. He had since done something to the bottom end and is going to replace the whole engine. The truck only had about 30K on it, and then maybe 10K from when he had them. Before he installed them he had some work done to them. Machined for lager springs and positive seats, (so more than .500 lift can be used I was told), ARP screw in studs, guide plates, and also includes an Edelbrock performer RPM airgap intake. I'm very interested in the setup and I think it will be cheaper than having my heads worked. I'm wondering what I should be looking for when checking them out. Would it be worth taking them to a shop before hand to have them looked at, prior to purchasing if possible? Or can I just check for cracks etc? Any help appreciated, thanks.

Jason

 

Considering the exchange rate $800 isn't out of line with the intake. But keep in mind Scoggins-Dickie sells a set reworked new for about $600 (American). Then add the Air-Gap, and you can buy a copy on Ebay for less than a Edlebrock. I'd look closely at buying new, but if you do keep SHIPPING in mind!. For an under 400hp street engine these heads and intake sound like a plan.

Ask the guy if he'll let you have a machine shop check them, if they pass you'll buy (either way YOU'LL pay). If I were selling them I'd go along. Buy them unchecked?. Your call.

 

One thing worth noting is that if the spring seats were machined down deeper in the head, you will have to shim the springs to get the proper seat and open pressures. Just a little more setup/prep that needs to happen before you start the engine once it has found its home between the frame rails. You'll also want to make sure that they didn't open up the seat too much. I have seen unrestrained springs move around and chew into the head over time. If they wen't too big and deep, then you can have custom spacers machined that would fit the ID of the seat and the OD of the spring to positively locate them around the valve guide. But again, that all adds to the cost.

Also, you don't know if these heads are cracked or not so I would definitely have them magnafluxed. It shouldn't be too expensive, but when all of these things add up, you could buy a brand new set as 2000BlazerSS, has mentioned for around the same.