Best bolt on head with stock cam?
10-06-2009, 05:56 PM
#1
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Best bolt on head with stock cam? Im considering swapping heads after reading a few articles in GM High tech with dyno proven results.
I dont want to go into cam swaps , but heads seem to be as far as I'd go.
What would the experts say would be the best bolt on ( no port work or polish) to work best with the stock cam or perhaps bigger rockers, BUT it has to be still be daily driven with a good torque increase in the stock rev range as I wont up the rev limiter as I'd never use that kind of rpm.
I plan on full length headers to compliment this and leaving the stock LS6 intake and TB/MAF, yes, it has an SLP lid and filter.
Curious as to what power can be obtained this way, thanks.
I dont want to go into cam swaps , but heads seem to be as far as I'd go.
What would the experts say would be the best bolt on ( no port work or polish) to work best with the stock cam or perhaps bigger rockers, BUT it has to be still be daily driven with a good torque increase in the stock rev range as I wont up the rev limiter as I'd never use that kind of rpm.
I plan on full length headers to compliment this and leaving the stock LS6 intake and TB/MAF, yes, it has an SLP lid and filter.
Curious as to what power can be obtained this way, thanks.
10-06-2009, 06:00 PM
#2
You'll have to spend some money to get a set of heads that will give you any noticable gain on the stock cam. And even then you might get 15-20hp?
A cam swap is much easier and and cheaper and can gain you any where from 10-60rwhp depending on how big you want to go. 'Daily driven' is very subjective.
A cam swap is much easier and and cheaper and can gain you any where from 10-60rwhp depending on how big you want to go. 'Daily driven' is very subjective.
10-06-2009, 06:30 PM
#7
Manifolds too? The only way I would believe it would be if it were someone like Pat G who left nothing untouched and everything was perfect. I mean aren't there full bolt on cars making 370-380? I guess a $2500 set of heads (possibly even worked on) would put that over the mark.
Still, a complete waste of time and money if that's all you're going for.
Still, a complete waste of time and money if that's all you're going for.
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10-08-2009, 01:31 PM
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I just read in the newest GM Hgh tech on project CT (99 SS with CARB leagal mods) anf they installed AFR heads (205's i think) and the closest to CARB leagal cam being the 02-04 LS6 cam and they got about 20hp and I find no reason for that much work and money for little gains like that.
What Im really talking about is the article where they took a stock 01 WS6 and added Edelbrock/lingenfelter heads (about 2400 bucks assembled and CNC'd) and made just under 54hp at the wheels.
Anyone else do this or something close? I would also assume gaining a few more ponies by adding FL headers/exhaust and a tune. That would be about as far as I'd consider going with my car.
What Im really talking about is the article where they took a stock 01 WS6 and added Edelbrock/lingenfelter heads (about 2400 bucks assembled and CNC'd) and made just under 54hp at the wheels.
Anyone else do this or something close? I would also assume gaining a few more ponies by adding FL headers/exhaust and a tune. That would be about as far as I'd consider going with my car.
10-08-2009, 02:09 PM
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Sounds like you're avoiding the cam swap because you like the mild manners of the stock cam.
Fyi, you can go with a 224 cam (e.g. TR224 114lsa or TSP 224R 114lsa) and have very good street manners. With a 224 cam, 241 heads, all the regular bolt on's and a tune you will be somewhere around 375rwhp.
I've driven my Z28 about 100k miles over the last 4 years, with about 155k miles total on it now. I installed my 224 cam and 243 heads 2 years ago at about 110k miles.
It does fine in bumper to bumper traffic, running the AC on a hot 95 degree summer day. If there is no snow or ice on the ground I drive it in the winter too. You really don't give up any street manners at all with a small cam.
Fyi, you can go with a 224 cam (e.g. TR224 114lsa or TSP 224R 114lsa) and have very good street manners. With a 224 cam, 241 heads, all the regular bolt on's and a tune you will be somewhere around 375rwhp.
I've driven my Z28 about 100k miles over the last 4 years, with about 155k miles total on it now. I installed my 224 cam and 243 heads 2 years ago at about 110k miles.
It does fine in bumper to bumper traffic, running the AC on a hot 95 degree summer day. If there is no snow or ice on the ground I drive it in the winter too. You really don't give up any street manners at all with a small cam.
10-08-2009, 02:12 PM
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I have dyno charts for every single mod the car has ever had, just in case you need further proof.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...stock-cam.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...stock-cam.html
10-08-2009, 02:23 PM
#12
I have dyno charts for every single mod the car has ever had, just in case you need further proof.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...stock-cam.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomet...stock-cam.html
10-08-2009, 05:09 PM
#15
If you are on a budget you could get a used set of 243's heads with low miles on the classified section of this forum.I would also do a cam if I were you.There are all sorts of mild cams you can get as mentioned earler.A tr224 is a good all around proven cam.Or maybe something around 218 to 220 is still a small cam but very streetable.It's all in the tune you get as to how streetable it will be.If it was me I wouldn't do just the heads.If you like the stock manners a lingenfelter gt2-3 would be also cool.
Last edited by transwiz; 10-08-2009 at 05:15 PM.
10-08-2009, 05:23 PM
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No I havent, but I recently did get an LS6 cam in there, but it got some issues....lifters maybe, its got some racket going. Did manage to pick it up to 449 rwhp, may get 5-6 more out of it when its all said and done.
10-08-2009, 08:06 PM
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Im considering swapping heads after reading a few articles in GM High tech with dyno proven results.
I dont want to go into cam swaps , but heads seem to be as far as I'd go.
What would the experts say would be the best bolt on ( no port work or polish) to work best with the stock cam or perhaps bigger rockers, BUT it has to be still be daily driven with a good torque increase in the stock rev range as I wont up the rev limiter as I'd never use that kind of rpm.
I plan on full length headers to compliment this and leaving the stock LS6 intake and TB/MAF, yes, it has an SLP lid and filter.
Curious as to what power can be obtained this way, thanks.
I dont want to go into cam swaps , but heads seem to be as far as I'd go.
What would the experts say would be the best bolt on ( no port work or polish) to work best with the stock cam or perhaps bigger rockers, BUT it has to be still be daily driven with a good torque increase in the stock rev range as I wont up the rev limiter as I'd never use that kind of rpm.
I plan on full length headers to compliment this and leaving the stock LS6 intake and TB/MAF, yes, it has an SLP lid and filter.
Curious as to what power can be obtained this way, thanks.
Well I'm no expert & I don't really know what your budget is.
But if it was me, I would go with Texas Speed ported LS6 or 5.3 heads.
They seem to be the best aftermarket ported head for the price.
I would also get a set of 1.85 rockers & a good dyno tune.
As long as you keep the stock cam you should have really good torque
& it should be very driveable.
If you were wanting to go cheaper, you could just find a set of used
243 heads. I don't think that I would go to the time, trouble, & cost
to swap used unported heads though.
