badmfkr

iTrader: (4)

which year model cars w/ 243 heads had the good sodium valves?

and which year model cars w/ 243 heads had just regular valves?

I did a search .

Thanks

12secSS

iTrader: (30)

Obviously you didn't search very well.

Anyway, 2001-2004 LS6 (not sure if only ZO6 or also CTS-V) had the light weight sodium filled valves, while the 2005+ LS2 (Corvette, GTO, TBSS, etc ...) had the standard valves. All of these had 243 heads.

badmfkr

iTrader: (4)

I was thinking only the newer Vettes had the prefered sodium valves
and the other 243 headed cars where just regular valves

posting because I'm
am unsure.

Thanks

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

01 Z06 had regular valves. 02-04 Z06 had the sodium filled/hollow stem valves.

badmfkr

iTrader: (4)

I'm assumming that the sodium filled valves are lighter reducing the the force it takes for them to go up & down so you get more power w/ lighter valves?

is this the reason to get sodium filler valves?

so the 243 w/ sodium valves stops at 04 Z06 because the 05 had LS2?


Thanks

kdavis

iTrader: (14)

ls2s came with the 243 heads aswell.

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

But without the sodium filled/hollow stem valves.

KMS.1320

iTrader: (1)

Jesse can you PM me a price on a set of bare untouched 243's or 799's whichever is cheaper? thanks

badmfkr

iTrader: (4)

I was planning on PRC 5.3 2nd stage heads and just doing a 243 sodium valve swap into the 5.3s.
since the are the same size 2.02"/1.57
will these valves be better (meaning more power) in the 5.3s compared to the regular valves that come w/ the PRC 5.3s?

Thanks

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

The valves themselves are a little longer, so you'd need shorter pushrods. They aren't worth swapping really.

jmarsa

iTrader: (1)

Interesting, first I've heard of that. So when LS6 Z06 Vette/CTS-V engines do cam swaps they need a different length pushrod than the standard valved LSx's.

--JMarsa

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

this is why people who use the LS6 cam in their other LS engines they need longer pushrods. The LS6 has teh same pushrods as any other LS, but a smaller base circle cam and long valves. Using either the valves or cam without the other requires a diff length pushrod

Coreyc619

my thoughts on the Na valves are that they are a little lighter, therefore you have better valvetrain control.. hence less chance of float and less wear and tear on other valvetrain components. i doubt you will see much if any hp difference.

trukk

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to do the 10 day bump...but just adding that the '04-'05 LS6 based CTS-V has the sodium/hollow valves as well.

Per the other post further up, the 02-04 LS6 based C5 Z06 does as well.

-Chris

b.d.d.

iTrader: (2)

Careful what you define as "better".

Do any serious spring work and the seat pressure goes through the roof which can snap the heads off the hollow valves. No one that does serious drag racing uses hollow valves. Use the solid valves and buy some good springs that will allow you to run 300+ spring pressure when seated - no valve floating issues and more power. The rest is just snake oil.

sedanman

iTrader: (10)

How can you tell the differance between the two? I just bought a set of 243's and would like to know.

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

The best thing to do is to simply find out what they came off of. There are far more regular 243s out there than LS6 243 with sodium filled/hollow stem valves. They will make just as much power, but if you get high spring pressure as noted above you can have a problem with the "better" valves. Standard LS2 style 243s are probably the more desirable for most applications.

Sharpe

iTrader: (7)

Bump. Good info in this thread.

00Camary

iTrader: (15)

So if i have a ms3 cam with 243 heads and i am running a dual spring.... are my sodium filled valves in jeopardy cuz of seat pressure? I got the heads off of a 04 zo6. ????

Scoggin Dickey

iTrader: (34)

You'll be fine.