SBC Heads: Blueprint H8002K vs. GM Bowtie Vortec

In this video I compare Blueprint Muscle Series H8002K aluminum cylinder heads to General Motors small-port Bowtie Vortec iron cylinder heads. Both are great cylinder heads for a small block chevy engine and have their pros/cons. Check out my comparison and let me know what you think!
Blueprint H8002K specification(s)
195cc intake runner
64cc combustion chamber
Threaded 3/8" rocker studs
Up to .575" lift
Flow @ 28" (intake) from mfg website
.100" - 83
.200" - 150
.300" - 190
.400" - 223
.500" - 252
.600" - 245
GM Small-Port Bowtie Vortec
185cc intake runner
66cc combustion chamber
Threaded 7/16" rocker studs
Up to .530" lift
Flow @ 28" (intake) / unconfirmed source
0.100 67
0.200 136
0.300 188
0.400 232
0.500 251
0.600 240

[@vinshanestrickland4179]

They are on par with each other they perform almost identical or atleast did with a 383 we swapped them to do some dyno pulls...then I went to putting in the time to give them the max port work on both sets we kept the valves to 2.020 even though the blueprints would have taken the 2.050 it was counter productive to lose the valve size on the vortex exhaust to gain the .030 on in .. I knew where the vortec heads needed work I have ported many sets .the combustion chambers are the best ever produced in a sbc factory head until the LS1 came to town..that boss on the spark plug gets layer back and blended the valves get little unshrouding. And the ports end up in the @190cc and 68 to 70cc on combustion chamber after rework .. you have to seal off the stud holes and do some work its really not worth it now days . But after 5 angle valve jobs and many many hours porting and sonic checking heads the blue prints put 47 hp and 22ftlbs on the vortecs plus had more on the table wanting a bigger cam

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks for all the details Vinshane / 47hp and 22ft lb is definitely a nice gain! - I'm excited to fire up the motor and get it out of the road and see how the heads do / I'll keep you updated and thanks for the comment!

[@gerrywagoner26]

We have these Blueprint heads on a 383 stroker. They perform very well, dissipate heat effectively and the engine makes 470 hp. Zoom zoom.

[@Bige4u]

4:15 ... If anyone didnt catch it, the outter mounting bolt holes on the VORTEC head, GM clearenced them almost into the exhaust port, leaving less material for the exhaust gasket to totally seal to, so expect less gasket life... obviously not a problem on the BLUEPRINT heads, raising them avoided that issue.

[@TacoJoe]

well said / coming full circle- got the blueprints on my zz4 and I'm excited to try them out. I picked a cam that coincidentally is almost exactly the same lift/duration as the dress BP 355. Optmistic it will make 400ish HP / we'll see. Long term, I plan to use the vortecs on a torque motor build for a truck/cruiser/etc thanks for the comment

[@todd5082]

I’d look at the Trick Flow (alum) cylinder heads. Another great review. Thanks Taco Joe! (Not enough videos from ya)

[@TacoJoe]

I’ve never had a bad experience with Trick-flow parts / have a bunch of them in my ford motors / I’ll have to check out their heads too

[@todd5082]

TacoJoe when r u going to Gatlinburg?

[@mdavis472000]

Great video Joe! Do you know what the total weight savings the aluminum heads would have over the steel ones? I remember being amazed at how much lighter the Edelbrock Performer RPM heads were over the stock 351W iron heads on my Cobra. I can't remember what the difference was, but it was a lot.

[@TacoJoe]

It is significant for sure / i'll see if i can weigh them and compare / as part of the makeover, i might need to go to lighter springs in the front / its a TBD :)

[@BOOT]

Average is 50ish lbs for the pair but I like iron heads for other reasons myself

[@jasonrussell7085]

@@BOOT well good for you..thank you for your expertise.

[@BOOT]

The quench pad is on the opposite side of the chamber. That spot your pointing to/talking bout(the spark plug boss area) does something else other than just quench and the alum head has it. Just it's not as easy to notice or as pronounced because it's machined flat, trace a head gasket on the deck and you'll see it. Those BPE heads are an older version based on a copy of older AFR heads, they have a newer version based on a copy of a newer Dart design. The BPE head has a similar to modern performance head chambers that favors flow a bit more than mixture like the vortec head. Higher exhaust ports help flow and if it was possible they'd be straight up/out but it's not. The raised casting area in the valve cover is to allow the runner to be higher so it has a straighter shot from the intake, google raised-runner heads. The main advantage of the LS series engines over the SBC is runner design/angle. They can only correct it so much with the SBC aftermarket heads while still fitting most aftermarket intakes/parts. The biggest thing holding back the SBC(other than the weak factory block) is that the aftermarket supports 23 deg heads over less common lower angle heads just like the LS has. Still the SBC was designed/packaged for a carb and to fit under flat hoods and that's why most modded for performance have a taller intake and some sort of scoop or cowl. But even if you look at higher power LS or any V8 engine you'll see a taller intakes for a straighter shot at the cylinder.

[@TacoJoe]

I agree with EVERYTHING you said here / one of my biggest struggles with this build has been investing $$$s in a “new” SBC build knowing it will cost the same/more than a superior LS motor. The cathedral heads make that LS awesome . In the end though, these heads and motor or going in a 77 C3 Corvette and I’m of the belief character matters and SBCs just plain sound better/match the era better. I’m running a 224/230 cam in it but I might go Holley proflo4 because I’ve heard so many good things and you get a well behaved motor that still sounds old school. We’ll see how these heads work out- just ordered a set of full roller rockers from summit and they’ll be going on soon with the heads to check piston clearance / thanks for the comment!

[@BOOT]

@@TacoJoe The vortec heads are the better driver head with good power. FYI because of their chamber design they like a bit less total timing. I also have a C3 77, fun car! GL with your build

[@200horsepower]

How much is a good vortec cilinder head with valve and springs complete?

[@MrJasonroberts945]

I have a 427 sbc blueprint motor with an edelbrock rpm air gap waiting to be installed, but I don't know if the intake manifold will fit because of the taller ports on the heads. With a basic edelbrock performer on it currently, the ports on the heads don't get covered completely. Do you happen to know if the rpm air gaps will fit on it properly?

[@jmark7390]

Did you ever find out of Air Gap works?

[@dickeymoore4264]

I'm working on a sbc blueprint 400 engine and it seems that the plugs are pointed downwards instead of straight maybe because of the half inch raised runners.

[@TacoJoe]

GM has done a lot of things with location over the years (so has ford) - Once EFI was widespread, it made sense to fine tune plug location too / I don't know a ton about 400 heads but they are definetly different with the steam holes/etc - might need to google it and see if plugs were impacted too / thanks for the comment!

[@davea5113]

You should mention the difference in price, that might make a difference in buying one or the other.

[@cilantro16]

Did you bench test both heads to see which one has better flow?

[@TacoJoe]

Hi Masc - I included intake flow values in the videos description / thanks for the comment!

[@cilantro16]

I did not see that but that's only the intake flow. Without the exhaust flow I won't know the percentage of flow. With some simple math I can get 430hp 344hp at the wheels on the blueprint heads. I wonder if I can get that out of the gm stock heads.

[@TacoJoe]

Hey Masc - I’ll add exhaust flow numbers to the description too

[@cilantro16]

So to my question do you think I can get 430 hp, 344 at the wheels with the vortec stock heads? Even tho their casting looks nicer and are iron.

[@TacoJoe]

430 at the crank is do-able with bowtie vortecs for sure - key is making sure you have enough lift, the right cam-intake. If you google it, there are lots of dyno setups/results with these heads. Also Google "Crankshaft collation vortec" - really good site-summary on what to do with vortecs to make power / what to watch out for /etc.

[@whatchu_talkin_john_willis]

actually going to dyno test/flow test or just conjecture?

[@TacoJoe]

Just my thoughts / no dyno planned, but the blueprints are on my 350 and I'm adding an Edelbrock Pro-Flo4 as we speak / cam is 224/230 - excited to fire it up and overall they look like good heads! Thanks for the comment!

[@whatchu_talkin_john_willis]

@@TacoJoe the proflo4 is antiquated and overpriced. Building your own efi system using a holley terminator X would yield much better results and greater flexibility. A wideband tuned carb works very well for the best bang for buck tuning solutions heads dont operate on duration, they flow at lift. no lift, no flow

[@konnerkramer329]

pretty sure the blueprint heads use Eaton valves. both eaton and blueprint are manufactured in the same town in Nebraska.

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks for the info Konner - I am SOOO close to firing up the motor I put these on and I'll let you know how they work out. Do you know what town in Nebraska? I travel there from time to time and it would be neat to check out-

[@konnerkramer329]

@@TacoJoe Kearney Nebraska

[@keepondreaming3870]

What' phase Bowtie heads are thoes?

[@TacoJoe]

I think they are Gen1 - purchased them (est...) 2011-2012 timeframe / are you building a motor?

[@MikeyB_1972]

Dyno would have the final say... maybe.

[@tjd1973]

The GM heads are stupid expensive, more than AFR heads which outperform them throughout the lift range, so there's that .

[@TacoJoe]

Hi Tim -you are correct / believe it or not i got this pair from Jegs in 2009/2010 for 1100$ new-assembled / I can't explain why they are so expensive now but completely agree with you - go for the AFRs

[@curtthompson2787]

This really wasnt a vs. It was you eyeball assumptions, guesses and opinion. Thought i was going to see some actual numbers and running on the dyno.

[@TacoJoe]

Hey Curt - wish I had a dyno, but in absence of that only my conjecture. On another note - I have about 500 miles on the motor and I'm very happy with the Blueprint heads - nice offering / thanks for the comment!

[@steveuleez477]

Most important part was price difference and you never mentioned anything about the price

[@TacoJoe]

Steve- you are 100% correct / the bowties are $$$. Whats a bummer is they used to be more affordable - I bought this set for around $1100 from Jegs in 2012 / times have changed I guess / thanks for the comment!

[@royo1450]

Those bowtie vortecs are thin castings

[@ipspots1]

no offense without flow numbers to compare.. and or back to back dyno tests.... this is incomplete.

[@TacoJoe]

true- but unfortunately I don't have a flow bench - so far though, no regrets with Blueprint heads on a ZZ4 bottom end / revs clean-strong and pulls like a SBC should up high / thanks for the comment!

[@adriancooks4204]

No solid information with no dyno are proof but thanks

[@TacoJoe]

yes sir - just my observations - got the Blueprints bolted up and ready to go and we'll see how they work this spring with the foot dyno- lol :) thanks for the comment

[@gmjoerally2303]

Blueprint all day

[@TacoJoe]

Going to fire it up shortly - pro-flo4 on top (EFI) - we'll see how the run / are you familiar with the heads/plug recommendations?

[@gmjoerally2303]

Yes i use ch champion t45... r

[@gmjoerally2303]

Did you 🔥 it up how does it run?

[@TacoJoe]

Getting closer / not yet (still wiring some things) - excited to fire it up though

[@keithfionda6499]

Better than vortes run em and see I can see u haven't run emor u would know

[@TacoJoe]

Hi Keith- I'll know soon - hoping to turn the key on the build in the next month or so / I'll let you know and thanks for the comment!

[@b.c4066]

the blueprint heads have more quench on the plug side than the vortecs. a 5 year old can see that. they are both good heads. the bp head is probably better at higher lift and higher rpm.