Vortec Origination?

[Suny]

If this has been discussed please direct me to the original thread as i've had a few tonight and am too lazy to search for it.

When did the FIRST Vortecs come about? In the Syclone Promo vid it says that the engine is of Vortec technology. I was at another forum where someone was looking for either an S truck or Ranger. Of course i told him S truck but when i was listening to the promo vid, the narator said that the Sy has a 4.3 Vortec engine. Start at 3:10 in the vid, but im assuming that was first gen vortec if that would be a correct assumption?

 

[nallj92]

Re: Vortec Origination?

I believe the mainstream thinking of the 96 + engines as vortecs comes from the usage of the term vortec for the 350 v8 engines( which started in 96 as well).

When GM changed from Tbi style 305's and 350's in full size trucks to the newer sfi 350's, the general public was then introduced to a "vortec" motor, even though we know that the 4.3 had been using this term for years like DaveP stated above. Sine most refer to 96+ as vortec in the V8 world, it has been sort of adopted by us as well being the best steel heads to use for high HP v6 builds

 

[Icarus-54]

Re: Vortec Origination?

To understand the term votec you must visulize a garden hose.When the water comes out the end of the hose,for a certain distance it keeps the same shape as the hose before it desperses.That is the vortec.How that relates to our cylinder heads is nothing more than marketing

 

[Captain Morgan]

Re: Vortec Origination?

the only thing you need to visualize is the shape of the combustion chambers. GM can call the engines whatever they want, but the whole "Vortec" thing was based off the new combustion chamber design that did not appear on the 4.3L until 1996. Although they appeared on small blocks earlier than that, GM probably thought they should just "hype up" the unchanged 4.3L to make it seem better, which is wasnt.

 

[Poconojoe]

Re: Vortec Origination?

The Vortec name first appeared on 4.3L V-6 engines in 1986.These engines were the first to use a new "Vortex technology" designed to create a vortex (powerful swirl like a tornado) inside the combustion chamber. The Idea behind this is to create a more even and well mixed air/fuel charge that both generates more power and is more efficient. Over the years this Vortex technology has changed and improved to develop many new changes in the GM power train division. In today's world 'Vortec' Means power and here is where the confusion starts. There are literally thousands of cylinder heads that have been made with the vortex technology since 86 and many people refer to 87 and later small block heads as 'Vortec' heads. While this is a half truth the heads that GM sells under the Vortec name and the ones everybody is buzzing about did not exist until 1996.

 

[sy605]

Re: Vortec Origination?

First engine to sport the VORTEC logo was the 92 S-series with the 4.3 CPI engine.