# need help building my vortec sbc
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [January 27, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617 "2011-01-27T14:54:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617/1 "2011-01-27T14:54:01Z")
now tha the motor is in the car and running well, it’s time to up the ponies. I’m planning on heads and cam minimally, but if I need to do the carb and intake I’ll do that too.
right now the motor is fairly stock, other than the carb conversion. I’m running a Holley 600cfm carb.
Ideally I’d like to make close to 400 horse at the crank. but I have no idea what combo would be proper for a small budget.
I would like to stick with the vortec style head so I don’t need to buy a different intake, but if I can find something that works just as well in the older style have no objection.
anyone have some free advice they’d like to help me with?
---------- Post added at 05:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------
when I say small budget I mean under $1500-$2k
---
### Author:  [@Spam16v](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Spam16v)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617/2 "2011-01-27T15:21:46Z")
you already have vortec heads? if you want to keep it under $2k, use the heads you have if they’re vortecs.
---
### Author:  [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617/3 "2011-01-27T15:44:14Z")
yeah, heads are vortec. the motor came out of a '97 3/4 ton pickup. it is a 4 bolt main block.
my only concern is that I know the heads will need some machine work to be able to accept a more radical cam because I knoe they won’t accept much lift. I don’t remember exactly what the specs are anymore though.
---
### Author:  [@Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jon)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617/4 "2011-01-27T16:41:07Z")
Keep the heads and do the machine work to run a larger cam, .470 is the max for lift.
Dont spend too much,you can go carb/old school distributor on a LS1.
---
### Author:  [@Schema](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Schema)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2011, 9:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617/5 "2011-01-30T09:31:29Z")
I have a complete build list for a sub 400hp SBC for Under $2k, the vortec heads were a 1/3 of the cost! Keep them. I’ll find the excel sheet I have. I’m building it for the miata
---
### Author:  [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-help-building-my-vortec-sbc/208617/6 "2011-01-30T20:15:52Z")
That’d be awesome schema. Thanks