vettewreck

iTrader: (1)

Which head is the better head to go with IF im going to be doing a cam as well, with matching springs and push rods? Should I buy a set a ported 799 or portd 243? And why? Thank you guys!

alexus6798

iTrader: (24)

They both are the same head. Only difference is the 243's that came on a C5Z had hollow stem valves.

wildcamaro

iTrader: (15)

^^^^hit the nail on the head

badazz81z28

iTrader: (6)

They are not the same. The casting process if different...The #799 head is a rougher cast as it is sand casted. Stock for Stock, the #243 will flow and perform better. In ported form then they are the same.

wildcamaro

iTrader: (15)

I've had both sets of heads and the were both semi permanent molded (SPM) not sand casted, which you can tell SPM by the triangles near the spark plugs and for what's it's worth my 799 heads were a much smoother casting overall compared to the 243s...more than likely it varies from head to head due to the manufacturing technique...

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

A GM powertrain engineer told me the 799s are smoother.

IMO those who push the 243s as "better" are just hungup on the fact some 243s came on performance package Vettes and therefore they have to come up with some excuse as to how it is better. Even when they hear the data the other way around their brain twists it back to anything with a Vette tie had to be the better part somehow.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Depends in where they were cast. You can have rough and smooth of both. The triangle marks by the spark plug holes are the tell-tale marks of the better heads.

It really gets interesting when you're at pull-a-part and find a 799 on one side, and a 243 on the other...

Again, it could be either 243's or 799's. If they're being ported though, it's not going to amount to a hill of beans at the end which one you go with.