HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

[ss9940_2]

Hi all!

Well, if you read my previous post about getting an owner of a '97 chaparral, you know that it's equipped with 2 5.7 VP GLis. One head was off cause the anode of a sparkplug fell into the cylinder. To make the story short, I'm currently repairing my boat (I'm on the coast in it right now); i bought 2 new heads (vortec), mounted them onto the engine, and SURPRISE the intake manifold won't fit. SOOOOO is there an intake manifold which fits onto the vortec heads and uses TBI? Please say yes... Otherwise i'm back to tearing the thing apart and using the old heads :S

Thanx in advance

Alex

 

[ss9940_2]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Pleaaase... waiting for an answer, gotta drive 300 miles if there is no manifold, and driving the minute i got an answer...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

If you really have Vortec heads, there sure is a manifold that fits them, but it should be the one already installed on the 1997 engine. Cause in 1996 the Vortec heads started and TBI is what injection system I have. The intake manifold that you have, how many bolt holes does it have? 8 or 12? Intake heads and intake manifold have the bolt that are completely vertical, not at any angle. Are you sure you got the right heads? a 1997 VP 5.7 should have had Vortec heads on it to begin with, and that manifold should have 8 bolt holes.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Marine didnt get the vortec heads until later then 96 or 97, but yes there is an intake which will fit. I wanted to say 98 was the first year for the marine engines to have vortec heads. but as stated in the other post 96 was for auto's

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

the picture isn't correct, but here's a link to Doug Russell's parts catalog for the 1997 Mercruiser 5.7EFI GEN + engine that has Vortec heads and TBI injection:
http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...60,160,70,230,240,140,150,20,10,120,110,50,40

Please note the price!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Marine didnt get the vortec heads until later then 96 or 97, but yes there is an intake which will fit.

Wrong, Mercruiser started using them in 1996.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

SS, if for some reason your engine had the 1987-1995 style head, then you should have replaced them with that style. That head is the one that has the center two intake manifold bolts at a 72 degree angle, not 90 degrees. Is that what you intake manifold looks like? 12 bolts and the center two (kind of under the throttle body) are at a different angle than the rest? If so, you have the wrong heads.
But maybe Summit Racing has a less expensive Vortec TBI manifold than Mercruiser??

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Here's the link to a 1997 Volvo Penta 5.7 with TBI:

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...,2775,2718,2719,2777,2756,2759,2760,2757,2720

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Marine didnt get the vortec heads until later then 96 or 97, but yes there is an intake which will fit. I wanted to say 98 was the first year for the marine engines to have vortec heads. but as stated in the other post 96 was for auto's

It was 1996 for the trucks, but somehow Mercruiser and VP got them the same year!

 

[Bondo]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Please say yes...

Ayuh,..... There sure Is,+ TilliamWe has it pretty well explained.....

 

[dcg9381]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

If this is a TBI boat, I'd be concerned that the vortec heads may flow more air than the standard heads and may somewhat upset the EFI tuning on the TBI unit.. You could go carb though, if the heads don't work with the EFI... Worth a try at least.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

I just got my information from Iboats parts, mercruiser parts and doug russell. The 96 and newer MPI mercs got the vortecs while the carb and 2bbl's still got the old merc 938-9718 heads until the end of 97. The part number for the 5.7 Heads from 87-97 without MPI are the same, and that goes for DR's site too. Looking at 98 then its a whole new PN.

 

[ss9940_2]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Thanx guys! Looks like I'll have to replace the heads with older type, the intake manifold sure is expensive in US (won't even bother to ask here in Europe). Yes, the heads i got have 8 mounting screws for the intake manifold, they are vertical. The intake manifold has 12 screws, as stated. Seems like i'm one unlucky guy that got a boat with standard head; everyone i asked for spare parts said that I must have vortec heads and i trusted them. Oh well, I learned another thing

Thanx for the help guys!

Alex

 

[LEKNIGHT]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

not sure about marine vs auto but edelbrock makes a TBI vortec intake. i had it on my camaro. i also put a regular style manifold on. just took a dremel and elonggated the center holes so it would bolt down. that is the only difference. i believe there was even a company that made a manifold for both. it came with spacer that fit into the center wholes for different angles.

the edelbrock intake was like $150-$250. cant remember. look at summitracing or edelbrock.com

 

[Bondo]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

TBI vortec intake. i had it on my camaro. i also put a regular style manifold on. just took a dremel and elonggated the center holes so it would bolt down.

Ayuh,......

You're talking about the Early,+ Later modeled Chevy Heads,....

Those Holes you dremeled out,...... Aren't even There on the Vortecs......

 

[LEKNIGHT]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Ayuh,......

You're talking about the Early,+ Later modeled Chevy Heads,....

Those Holes you dremeled out,...... Aren't even There on the Vortecs......

oh yes, now i remember. the holes were drilled to put pre 87 intake on 87+ heads

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Thanx guys! Looks like I'll have to replace the heads with older type, the intake manifold sure is expensive in US (won't even bother to ask here in Europe). Yes, the heads i got have 8 mounting screws for the intake manifold, they are vertical. The intake manifold has 12 screws, as stated. Seems like i'm one unlucky guy that got a boat with standard head; everyone i asked for spare parts said that I must have vortec heads and i trusted them. Oh well, I learned another thing

Thanx for the help guys!

Alex

Boy, I sure am sorry that it happened that way SS. If you have access to a fairly new 5.0 or 5.7 with a 2bbl carb on it, that manifold "might" just be the same as a TBI manifold. The TBI only has two holes for the air fuel mixture, so it "could" be the same as a 2bbl manifold.
Or you could just go back to the place you bought the heads and tell them that you need 1987 to 1995 style heads, they should understand what you mean.
Best of luck.

(Mkos, no problem. We all know those listing can be confusing. I only truly "know" because I have a 1997 model TBI Mercruiser 5.7 and unfortunately have had the Vortec heads off of it once!)

 

[AZSenza]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

LOL, this is driving me NUTSO! I have a 1997 5.7 EFI Bravo III in a 97 Larson 226LXi. Without tearing the engine apart, how can I tell if its
1. A Vortec
2. Got a Roller Cam
The intake manifold seems to be a 4V with an adapter (Yes all stock) to accept the 3 bolt hole TBI Unit.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Count your intake manifold bolts. If you have 8, they are Vortec heads and you have a roller cam. If it has 12, you don't have Vortecs and probably don't have a roller cam either.

 

[AZSenza]

Re: HELP! Vortec heads + TBI = is there an intake manifold?

Cool, works for me, 12 is the count! Looks like I'm in the market for a set of heads and intake!
: )