wickedchicken

will stock 98 trans am heads make decent power on a budget build or should i upgrade them

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

Depends on what your looking to do with car. How much your willing to spend? Is this just going to be a Bolt On car?

Blk98Vert

iTrader: (2)

Sell them and get some 241s or 243s, the 98-99 castings make less power

MikeWS6

I thought once ported, they make the same power as any other ls1 head.

Blk98Vert

iTrader: (2)

They do, but OP wants to do a budget build. Truck 243s are relatively cheap. I had some mildly ported 241s with PRC duals that I got for $150. Both are better options than 98 castings

garygnu

you can find used 243/799 heads for $400.317 have good ports but need some milling for NA use.look in the used parts section.whats your budget for heads ?you should consider a valve job and new valve springs.

Mike Morris

iTrader: (55)

How much power do you want or how fast do you want the car to be?
I went low 11s at full weight with those heads untouched.

baxsom

iTrader: (6)

Look at it this way, you can get a set of 243 or 799s for 350-400 used. Of course there is no way to know if they are good until they get checked out. You are looking at a valve job, milling, etc which is going to run you at least 200-300 bucks. Then you are going to need springs for your cam at 150-200 bucks. Or you can get a set of CNC PRC stage 2.5 5.3L heads with PRC dual springs ready to bolt right on for 1200.

farmington

iTrader: (14)

If you're really doing a budget build, leave the heads alone. Cam only can still make a lot of power. Change the springs and pushrods and you're good to go

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

I agree 100%!!! This is why I havnt bought used 243 and built them! Buy the time your done you could have bought PRC stage 2.5 LS6!!! and those are ported!!! Depends on what u wana do with your car... More info would help US help YOU!

Blk98Vert

iTrader: (2)

Umm someone please show me stage ANY TSP LS6 head WITH good springs for $1200 to your door. The stage 1 with stock LS springs is just under $1200 shipped, but not many people will be using stock springs. Add their dual springs and you are looking at $1400+ shipped, with the 2.5s you are looking at almost $1600 shipped. In reality the cost of buying a set of 243s, having a valve job done and springs put in should be around $1000 max. So again the pricing is

$1000 or under for refreshed stock 243s

$1400 for stage 1 243s

$1550 for stage 2.5 243s

So op do what your budget allows. I priced the refresh from Advanced Inductions website. Im sure you could get them refreshed for cheaper at a machine shop near you.

baxsom

iTrader: (6)

I didnt say LS6 I said the CNC ported stage 2.5 5.3L heads. I just bought a set with PRC duals milled to 62cc from TSP through Lashway for that much.

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

wel actually you CAN get stage 1 LS6 directly from TSP for $1180 to your door. Standard springs are good springs... Depends on your build if it's necessary to get doubles. U can get away with 918 on some cams. So that would be $1400 for that... Why pay that when u can buy stage 2.5 for A little under $1600 WITH double springs included.... and Baxsom did say stage 2.5 5.3 heads... He didn't say LS6. One last thing It will not cost under $1000 for refreshed 243... It's $400-450ish for heads... $300 for valves $300 for double springs. And I would say about $200 for surface... That is already more than $1000 and I didn't include grinding seats for valve, valve seals, valve locks and so on.... With all THAT money invested you can buy 2.5 5.3 or spend a little more and buy 2.5. LS6. Both ARE PORTED! And EVERYTHING NEW ready to bolt on....

Blk98Vert

iTrader: (2)

Um yes it would be under $1000. If Advanced induction prices out a valve job with springs at around $700 a local valve job would be cheaper since Ai is a CNC valve job. Springs are $250 and surfacing heads does not cost 200

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

Are you including cost of heads, valves, springs, valve seals+locks? I've looked around and it will add up to more than $1000 just like I said... Everything on the PRC heads are new. And Ported to top it off... List off how much each item will cost and it will be more than $1000... Guaranteed.

Blk98Vert

iTrader: (2)

Again, Im quoting off of Advanced Inductions site, to have your heads taken apart, the valve job, milled and reassembled is $495. They will install Lunati gold duals for $225. So thats $720 for a CNC valve job. A local shop that does hand valve jobs should charge no more than $300. Springs add another $250 to be safe. The heads shouldnt cost more than $300. So thats $850. I dont know where you are getting over $1000. The machine shop will assemble everything.

LS1T56FTW

iTrader: (3)

I just bought my heads/cam package from TSP for 1700, pushrods, dual springs, cam, etc.

2win_SS

iTrader: (1)

Here we go again... PRC doubles from TSP are $300... We will go with your $300 estimate for valve job... I've never seen 243 for $300. Least I've seen them go for is $380... So we will meet in middle at $340... And your forgot to mention the milling or surface job... I see milling at $200. I would like to know where I can get milling/surface cheaper(I'm not being sarcastic) so $300+$300+$340+$200=$1140.... What I am getting at is you can get Stage 1 LS6 or stage 2.5 5.3 for around that much... And the valves are NEW on those heads... And those Heads are PORTED... I believe getting your 241 ported from AI was $800 isn't? So why not go PRC heads? I am not arguing with you so let's not reply with a bad attitude...

Blk98Vert

iTrader: (2)

What is wrong with reusing valves? Shops do it all the time, even AI. They refinish the OEM valves. The $750 includes, disassembly, reassembly, installing the new springs ready to bolt on. And ive seen truck 243s go for $300 on down. I know the machine shop our shop uses charged $300 for a full valve job on SBC/LS heads and they will mill them for no extra charge. Add on $250 for springs. Im not talking PRC duals Im talking Lunati duals. And $300 for the heads. Thats $850.

bww3588

iTrader: (49)

What machine shop have you been going to that charges 200 bucks to mill the heads? My local shop and a few others I have been to charge 30 to 50 per set...