Car Craft – November 2019

➔HANDS ON

V

ortech Engineering has done it

again. Now owners of ’99–’

Gen III and Gen IV Vortec V-

engines (as pulled out of Chevy, GMC,

and Hummer light trucks and SUVs)

can install a belt-driven V3 SCi super-

charger without any intake or front-

dress hassles. Just call Vortech

Engineering (or your local Vortech rep)

and say, “I want a Vortech for my

Vortec.” It didn’t used to be so easy.

The history of hassles stems from

the fact GM used different intake mani-

folds and front dress on the light-truck/

SUV-based Vortec engines than it did

on non-Vortec passenger-car applica-

tions like ’97-and-later Corvette,

Camaro, Firebird, GTO, and so on. But

with Vortech Engineering’s GM Vortec-

specific kit (PN 4GX218-154L) that’s all

a memory. Now, the taller Vortec bar-

rel-ram intake manifold and throttle

body stay put, and the front-drive

setup remains nearly intact.

What this means is owners of ’99–

’13 Gen III– and Gen IV–powered trucks

can give their work trucks, trailer haul-

ers, family movers, and fun machines

an 8-psi injection of life (the 4.8L

Vortec 4800, 5.3L Vortec 5300, and

A VORTECH FOR

YOUR VORTEC

One Bolt-On Makes Any Boneyard

5.3 Eat LS7s for Breakfast

By Steve Magnante / Photos: Steve Magnante

For an amazing 15 years (1999–2013), the

4.8-, 5.3-, and 6.0L LS engine front dress

looks pretty much like this. Factory A/C

equipment (low mount) can be used, but

only if the vehicle engine bay will accept it.

14 CAR CRAFT NOVEMBER 2019