What exactly is VORTEC?

Ok, after reading so many posts, I realized I don't really know what VORTEC IS! I've read about 4.3L without VORTEC and that that is NOT a good thing...in so many words. I have a 4.3L Vortec engine, but I did not go specifically looking for one, so I really don't know what I've got.

Here you go, straight from GM:

Essencially, it is a change in the design of the head which swirls the air/fuel mixture more in the combustion chamber to improve the amount of mixing as well as the amount of the mixture that is burned each time the spark plug fires. That is my understanding of it anyway...

*EDIT* WOOHOO! 100 Posts!

Yeah that's basically all it is. The cylinder heads are designed to swirl the A/F mixture to create more power along with better gas mileage. Once, when questioned about what Vortec was, I heard a GM PR guy say "Have you ever been in the middle of a tornado? That's the effect we're going for."

ALLLLLLLLLLL 4.3L engines in the S-Series trucks have Vortec heads.

The current version, which is the most popular, most sought after, and most productive version of Vortec heads didn't start until 1996.

Here is a little more information on the subject.
http://www.s10extremist.org/tech_articles/vortec.htm

^^^^Very good article right there^^^^

That shows the difference between the intake bolt pattern to a 'T'. Talusgirl, that is why you would not be able to use the 2000 heads. Look at the second to last picture on that page. Your heads have the bolt angled more horizontal (right head) and the newer vortec heads have them angled more vertical (left head).

Great fuel efficiency my ass!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: m00nwater

Great fuel efficiency my ass!!

LOL!!! Well, I'm sure it is better than what it would be without the vortec head design...

True, true...I was actually appalled today to hear that gas prices in Ontario are rising to almost $2/L...it has been about $1/L most recently, but today in London and Chatham my brother said it was $1.79/L....insane!!!

Apparently, it is supposed to rise to $5/L US in Ontario...looks like I might be buying a diesel engine and using old fryer grease!!!!

Geez.... WTF happened? Prices here were dropping!

BTW, diesels on fryer grease make me HUNGRY!!! LOL - LMFAO!!!

They're blaming it on hurricanes again...

I also heard that in Alberta (where most of Canadian oil comes from), all the taxpayers got $400 cheques today because the government had collecetd so much tax on gas that they wanted to "give back" to the province. Ontario's gov't earned 65 BILLION dollars or some ridiculous number (maybe it was 6.5..that sounds more reasonable) in gas taxes, but they only put 300 MILLION back to fixing the roads...WTF?!

Well, it probably isn't from Katrina, but the new one that is coming through (forgot the name of it) that is looking like it's going to hit New Orleans again. In my opinion, they should leave what's underwater down there UNDERWATER!!! It was only a matter of time until the levy's broke and/or the bilge pumps went down.

Is is too late to move to Alberta? I could use $400 towards my engine....

Bilge pumps

Fuel injected engines help with fuel economy tremendously. Its just that we want more power. Just think, your 4.3L engine puts out more power then a factory carb'd 350 did 30 years ago. Kind of hard to believe isn't it. Not too mention you get better gas mileage then the 30 years ago. I remember when gas was .25 cents a gallon. I was pumping it at my Dad's Standard gas station. Standard, as in Amoco, or rather its BP now. Yea, been a long time.

Get your gas in the morning, Friday morning. No doubt by after noon gas prices will be climbing again. Today it was at 2.58 per gallon.

Honestly I do hope Rita follows the same path as Katrina. Most of the damage has already been done, and most of the citizens have been evacuated. I figure it would cause less damage then anwhere else. Lesser of two evils tpype thing.

Just went and filled all gas tanks tonight and on the way back stopped at the store to buy ice-cream bars and Lucky Charms for comfort. Now I (in the midwest) am ready to ride out the storm...

I forgot to add : I remember having a motor scooter (not technically a Moped, it could not be pedalled, and didn't have a clutch) and filling it at the gas station for $1.25. That tank of gas would last me a week atleast. This was my mode of transportation in highschool, didn't have a car. I also had a canoe, and a bike. I wish I was in that shape now. Would sure save on gas!

Hmm...... Well, I didn't THINK I had Vortec, but I guess you're saying I do, since I have an S-10 Blazer (though not the newer, better kind of Vortec). Guess I'd better go check! Will read the info when I have more time, it's 12:26 AM and I need to go to sleep.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hanr3

ALLLLLLLLLLL 4.3L engines in the S-Series trucks have Vortec heads.

The current version, which is the most popular, most sought after, and most productive version of Vortec heads didn't start until 1996.

Here is a little more information on the subject.
http://www.s10extremist.org/tech_articles/vortec.htm

You know what I just thought of? If the new hurricane follows in Katrina's path, It'll pick up that nasty biohazard corpse etc. water and spread it around!!! God, I am glad I live in the Midwest!!!

i guess how Daimler-Chrysler has their HEMI GM has their Vortec?

quote:

ORIGINAL: TonyOneX

i guess how Daimler-Chrysler has their HEMI GM has their Vortec?

Exactly.  Also, you started up again a very, very old post, from about 1.5 years ago.  lol

Yes, please stop digging out old threads...  Instead, make new ones!

They're not old threads, they're "classic" threads! LOL

oh wow sorry guys.. on my friends forums the last pages are the newer posts.. and the first pages are the older posts.. well.. atleast "i'm bringing classic back" - Justin Timberlake new tune

Ha ha!!
 
It's okay, I've learned a lot by going through the "classic" posts since I wasn't a member way back when...

and I dont even remember posting to this thread. Although its pretty obvious I did.

Still good to see things from past threads. I've been to lazy to look up the whole Vortec bs. 

I thought the HEMI head's had two spark plugs per cylinder?