I have a 1996 silverado 350 with the vortec motor. Does this mean that the cylinder heads are the infamous "vortec" heads that GM is famous for? Is there any chance that LT1 heads would be an option for a swap? any help would be nice. Thanks

 

For the bilionth time, No there is no other intake manifold for the vortec engines, no you can't but lt1 heads on there, no they just put the name vortec on the engine for no reason they didn't use vortec heads (sarcasim on the last one). Also nothing is interchangable from that engine to the 3rd gens (the engine in the nbs trucks)

 

The LT1 is a reverse-coolant flow SBC. It is also known as a "Gen-II" engine. Nothing in the heads or intake is compatible with the old Small Block Chevy like the one in your truck.

The heads on your truck are the same ones that are known in the hot-rod world as "Vortec Heads." They're only weakness is the small lift limitation and weak springs, but even limited they flow extremely well.

If you would like a smog legal aluminmum alternative, Edelbrock E-Tec 170's are a bolt on replacement. E-Tec 200's are also available with larger valves and springs capable to 6500RPM. Both Edelbrock heads have the same exhaust port pattern and 64cc chamber volume as your stock iron heads. They also clear the pushrods when 1.6:1 rockers are used.

Another alternative it the GM Fastburn Aluminum Vortec heads. These have 62cc chambers. Like the E-Tec 200s these have 200cc intake runners with stainless 2.02 intake and 1.6" exhaust valves. The Fastburn heads have "D-Shaped" exhaust ports which means they have the pattern used on the LT-4.