When Chevy introduced the new “Vortec” cylinder head design for its trusty small block back in the 1990s, savvy engine builders instantly recognized the new head’s value as an easy, budget-friendly upgrade to many older versions of the SBC V8.
That’s because these new Vortec heads could bolt right in place of pretty much any old stock small block Chevy head, yet offered vastly improved airflow characteristics—except there was one catch…
…those new Vortec head castings are prone to cracking under stress.
That means finding a good, usable set of OE Vortec heads nowadays can be really, really tough. Which is exactly why Summit Racing comes to the plate with an all-new Vortec-style cast iron cylinder head.
Available under part number SUM-151120, these heads are new, not remanufactured, using fresh, new castings made with enhanced techniques to mitigate cracking issues. Better still, the heads come with an upgraded valve spring package that lets you run your choice of either a hydraulic roller or flat tappet camshaft with up to 0.525 inches of lift.
The heads also feature a 64cc combustion chamber—which, depending on your engine configuration, can result in a healthy bump in compression as well.
But perhaps the best part is, Summit Racing was still able to keep the cost of these heads reasonable, carrying on the budget-stretching legacy that the O.G. Vortec heads were famous for.
Long story short, if you’re looking for an affordable upgrade to the small block Chevy in your truck, hot rod, or musclecar—but don’t want to spend a few seasons scouring junkyards for a set of original, usable Vortec heads—these new cast iron Vortec-inspired cylinder heads from Summit Racing are worth checking out.
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Want to better understand what makes Vortec heads so great? Read this article from OnAllCylinders contributor Jeff Smith:
Are Vortec Cylinder Heads Really Better Than Stock SBC Heads?
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