Pimpium57

iTrader: (104)

An FM13 will be on it's way soon, now I've gotta choose my heads. I've read a fair share about TEA and they seem to put up good numbers AND track times with Allan's cams. How did you guys decide between 5.3L and LS6 style heads? Those of you running the 5.3L 1.5s.....did you guys get them hand-finished or put 'em on straight from the CNC machine? Thanks for any advice....

jrp

iTrader: (16)

TEA 2.5 ls6 heads if you can afford them or TEA 1.5 5.3's if your on a budget.

TEA only uses true 243 castings, PP is the only one to make ls6 style heads with the 317 castings.

Bo White

iTrader: (59)

Since your lookin at TEA I would go with the 5.3 heads, its a great head for the money and TEA has a really great program for them

Pimpium57

iTrader: (104)

How radical can I get with either of those heads without having to get into flycutting?

Bo - You wouldn't step up to the LS6s over the 1.5s?

SouthFL.02.SS

5.3's in my sig., very happy with them. If you have the $$$, go with the Stage 2.5 LS6 heads, as already mentioned by JRP. The tq. curve will be incredible with the LS6's.

Pimpium57

iTrader: (104)

Do the Stg. 2.5s get hand-finished or are they straight outta the CNC'er?

How do I go about choosing the proper valve and know how far I can mill them?

matts22

iTrader: (2)

If you don't have a core though, you are talking BIG BUCKS to get the LS6 heads. Like probably close to $3000 compared to $15-1800 for the 5.3L. I'm either going with the 5.3L or AFR. Check out the Sponsor section....TEA has a special going on, and they have only done one other special to my knowledge, so it is a GREAT time to buy heads from them.

cyphur

iTrader: (10)

find a cheap set of bare, used ls6 heads. then you're lookin at ~1700 for a fully hand finished set of absolutely kickass LS6 heads. since you can typically find used bare ls6 heads for 600-700 bucks....you're at what, 2300 now? i think its worth it.

Bo White

iTrader: (59)

I havent been real impressed with the LS6 power numbers compared to the much cheaper 5.3s. I have seen one or two cars make real good average numbers with the 243 castings but almost every thread or combo you look at were the 5.3 head was used there was respectable power made almost everytime. Just food for thought.

ulySSes

Thats what Im thinking of doing.

verbs

My stg. 2.5 LS6 combo with a G5X3 gave me an easy 30hp at the crank over my old TEA stg. 2 5.3 heads and TR230/224 cam. I can't complain.


Besides, I think this thread is all wrong. You want to be matching the cam to the heads, not the heads to the cam.

dug

iTrader: (10)

How would that compare to AFR heads in terms of power? Theyd be similar in price.

Pimpium57

iTrader: (104)

Then tell me.....what cam would match the 2.5 LS6s???

verbs

it depends on your goals. Do you want low end power? All out top end power? Do you plan on running any N2O? There is a lot to factor into making a cam for your vehicle that best suits your needs.


For $450 you can have a cam custom built and sent to your door that will make more overall power than these off the shelf cams will with your setup.

There are two guys here that do a great job of designing cams specific to your setup. EDC and CStraub of this board. Both have slightly different philosophies for making power, I'd talk to both and learn more about what they have to offer you.

I have a custom built cam from EDC that is going in my car in the next couple days, and will be doing back to back dynos with the G5X3 in my car, and the custom cam right after if you'd like to see some examples. I chose EDC because he's had great success making power with my cylidner heads (the TEA Stg. 2.5 LS6 heads) in the past.

Talk to people on the board like J-Rod (who has dealt with EDC) about custom cams and the improvement over these off the shelf cams which are for the most part designed to work with stock heads.


Just so you can get an idea of how much thought is put into a custom cam by the builders, check out this sheet I had to fill out for my cam.

http://members.***.net/maverbin/FTI-Cam-Info.doc