Some engines just won't go away. Back in the May '11 issue, we brought you the first part of our budget-built 400 small block Chevy. The idea was to bolt a set of iron Vortec heads on a junkyard 400 ...

It's obvious that hot rod parts have evolved tremendously over the past 70 years or so. One of the best examples is the small-block Chevy cylinder head. A scant 30 years ago, the iron "fuelie" casting ...

In their later years, Vortec engines have fallen victim to some downsides, like Active Fuel Management, an aggressive thirst for oil, and engine knocking. But back when they were brand-new, these ...