Vortec Question for a Guru....(heads)

[jolee]

THERE IS something wrong in my valvetrain I was wondering if I end up with a bent or broken valve,pushrod,spring,ect.....can I replace then damaged parts with standard 350 head parts or do I have to buy new vortec parts?..., money is kind of tight so I'm tring to do it as cheap as possible.....

[RABarrett]

If there is truly a problem with your Vortec heads, the least expensive fix is to use Vortec replacement parts. The non_Vortec parts will not fit, and the Vortec heads require special intake manifolds, hardware. Can you describe the problem you are having? Ray

[jolee]

I have a head problem .....I had a tick in the top end .... it came after a long road trip. The tick only came on when idling and when you would de-celerate.
After the road trip, I was driving along and it started to miss on one cylinder and it was backfiring out of the exhaust I am assuming that I have a valve stuck open......

Another question I had was can I take both parts of the intake (upper and lower) off at the same time as a whole ?



Oh ya I have no $$$$ I spent it all on this truck

[RABarrett]

If you can determine which cylinder is creating the problem, it is possible to replace the valve springs without removing the heads. You will need an air compressor, a valve spring compressor, keepers and a new spring. It is likely that a spring has lost its tension, allowing the valve to operate independently of the cam. There are other possililites here but you will likely be able to locate them with a timing light. Ray

[jolee]

Thanks for your input.... Have you ever done any major work on a 96' 305 Vortec ? I was wondering if you had any input on taking off the 2 intakes (upper and lower) at the same time? I mean Just unbolting the lower intake and removing them as a whole unit? Just trying to save myself some work that all.....

[rpg]

Originally Posted by jolee

Thanks for your input.... Have you ever done any major work on a 96' 305 Vortec ? I was wondering if you had any input on taking off the 2 intakes (upper and lower) at the same time? I mean Just unbolting the lower intake and removing them as a whole unit? Just trying to save myself some work that all.....

Jolee, I just did this same thing two weeks ago to replace the intake manifold gaskets on my '96 350. There is a lot of stuff you will have to move out of the way, but there are only 8 lower intake manifold bolts.

4 at the front and 4 in the rear. The plastic upper part is really just a cover for the fuel injection system as well as a mount for the throttle body. It attaches to the lower intake and should stay with the manifold when removing.

Of course the distributor will have to be removed. (Mark the rotor position and distributor position accurately for re-installation). It's more of a camshaft position sensor than an actual distrbutor like the old days!

BTW, I used Felpro gaskets on mine (as recommended here) and the leaking Dexcool is no more!

rpg

[jolee]

I didn't mark the distributor because of bad Dealership advice "you can't time the new engines so no point in marking distb. possition."

Any Ideas how to fix?

[jolee]

Small forum....