Breathing Fire

Like the question said would the swap be worth it on a no cam bolt-on only car be worth it? I put it in my shop for the winter so I will have plenty of time to decide what to do next. Opinions welcome also. Thanks guys.

SLP4CamaroSS

iTrader: (16)

your already that far y not put a cam in there too

Evans752

iTrader: (29)

Well, I have the LS6 heads and mine are untouched, unported just valve springs to hold the lift from my cam. As far as power you are looking for??, don't know what your expectations are but with stock cam and bolt ons I would say 7 to 12 hp but dyno's are nice to get you real close far as tune goes but seat of the pants and real world power you will gain 1 to 2 tenths in the quarter mile I have seen and done. Its a real good upgrade from stock 853, 241 LS1 heads but the aftermarket heads are nice but EXPENCIVE and Trick FLows in my option are the way to go but I think you would have to run aftermarket rockers and then you get into valve cover spacers or aftermarket valve cogvers to cler the rockers and they are heavier the rockers are and would be harder on the valve springs. You would have to have a plan of what cam, gear in rear, and everything like that. I am happy with mine and really like them. Good Luck on you decision.

Breathing Fire

Well really want to do an LS3 swap in the future, but I don't see that happening soon. I have to replace the header gaskets because they are leaking and just figured since it will be down until the spring I just figured i'd have more than enough time to do it. And I was looking at the TR224 also for a cam. I just don't trust myself doing a cam and don't want to spend the money for someone else to do it. Ok so not to seem to A.D.Dish here, but what would you do with the money? I want strano bars and springs and konis also. I have been searching for hours and got fed up with looking and thought i'd ask. If it makes any difference the car has just around 120k on it.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Is your car an A4 or M6?

Breathing Fire

M6. Also it will never see the strip.

01m6ss

iTrader: (1)

IMO changing heads is harder then doing a cam swap.. just take your time. go to ls1howto's for more of a detailed look on how to change out a cam

printmanjackson

iTrader: (1)

I don't understand why no one asked what you have right now? What are you swapping out?

Second question, why would you increase head flow and not change out the cam to get all the benifits?

Breathing Fire

Well I could get a set from a friend dirt cheap. Since it sits all winter it would give me something to do. 853s are on it. Sounding like its not worth the work or $$. Just wanted some opinions. Thanks guys.

Damian

iTrader: (89)

Depending on your definition of "dirt cheap", if the heads are a good price and you can do the labor without paying someone then go for it. It's not going to be a huge gain, 10rwhp at best on a stock LS1 motor. So if the "dirt cheap" price tag on the heads and a couple days of your time is worth it, then go for it.

M1T/A

iTrader: (2)

Cam it.

Intercooler2

iTrader: (24)

I just did heads/cam/intake/tb on my 11.79 bolt-on car

IMO just do a cam! It's a ton easier and really cheaper for the power gain. I kind of wish I would have just cammed my car but I'm there now. If you have an LS6 intake I also wouldn't do that really. It's amazing really how far you can go with stock stuff. The cam is the heart though so put your efforts there although you will need valvesprings.

Jason 98 TA

iTrader: (4)

The LS6 heads made 14hp over 241 heads on the engine dyno. We typically see right at 40hp on a PRC Stage 1 LS6 head install.
$500 for used ls6 heads 14hp
$1000 for new PRC CNC Ported LS6 heads 40hp

printmanjackson

iTrader: (1)

Jason, what cam did you use when you say you got 40 hp with the stage 1?

XxWICKEDSSxX

Probably the stock cam. Remember you make more power with a great set of heads with a stock cam than a huge cam with stock heads.

40hp with ported ls6 heads is not out of the question at all.

BaddBird

iTrader: (6)

40hp with ported ls6 heads is not out of the question at all.


Depends on who ported the heads.

printmanjackson

iTrader: (1)

I would think the cam has more to do with the power/performance that a head. With so many choices you can have more control with a cam.

the big question is what cam to use?

ssdeuce74

iTrader: (2)

well there really a combo a matched heads and cam will out perform unmatched parts so a small ugrade head and good street cam would greatly increase mid range and huge runners and huge duration would scream 8k rpm everything topend and cam must match the goals for the car just food for thought course i'll be honest i'm going cam only picked a used one up cheap but mines a dd and only racin when my drag cars broke

DANOZ28

iTrader: (1)

if your on a tight budget i understand, however if your concern is losing "drivability" changing cams, there are plenty of reasonable cams that will idle nice. i went too small but my ls6 2002 cam runs / idles like stock. you wont see a massive gain from the heads until you cam it. then the high flow really kicks in. i dont think id go through all the work of changing heads without slightly upgrading the cam. i wanted a cam that idled nice so i called lunati and they recommended 221 / 565 on a 115 lsa.(A4). i was stupid for not taking their advice or the board sticky claims the 224 is a general all around good reasonable choice. just my 2 cents