So I guess I will try and find some Vortec heads. Is there any port or polishing work that can be done while I am putting the motor together.

 

Yes I think so if you want low end torque and I mean from idle to 2500 torque range, you need a smaller runner. If you want aluminium, look at E-tecs 170cc, AFR 180cc, or anything around that. But for the price and the compression, the cast vortec heads will be just fine! Your only talking about 30-40 lbs more in the front.

 

You want to port and polish them off the engine....metal debris goes everywhere.

 

I knew that I just wanted to see if there were any real gains from working the Vortecs. The biggest reason I liked the Patriot is because the set complete is only 800 and I thought they were 180s.

 

http://www.patriot-performance.com/w...03567&DID=1225 I guess they are 190s. I would like to have strong low end and mid range. Don't really care about top end because hp to weight means it will be strong just want a great all around trail vehicle, rock crawler, and mud truck.

 

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...2&autoview=sku this is the smallest of the cams that I am looking at and this is the other http://store.summitracing.com/partde...2&autoview=sku. Or if there is something that would better suit me I just like those because the range is supposed to be lower than a standard cam. Tell me what you think. The help so far has been AWESOME. Would a 9.5-1 be better or a 10.1 because we can get 93 octane here. The only thing about running 10.1 is I would HAVE to have high test correct? Thanks again

 

Ok...with those cams, you want about 9.5:1...any higher would send the DCR through the roof....not a good idea for the constant loads you will be putting on the truck. The cam I would go with for the flat tappet piece would be the 210/218. The Patriot 190cc can be used....for the most part, you want to keep the velocity and volume of air at a max below .400 of lift.

 

If you do a lot of mudding i wouldn't recommend Aluminum heads. I know people that do but personally i wouldn't. Mud can clog the radiator and cause it to heat up.
I did a 4.3-350 swap on an s10 Blazer and had an incident where there was so much mud on the headers and in the radiator that it got up around 250-260 degrees.

I used a set of Dart Iron Eagle heads with 220cc runners and 64cc combustion. thank god they helled up to the heat.