Advanced Engineering Tech - LSX Heads that flow like a Pro Stocker?

Looking for an alternative to my current heads. They are ETP C5R 265's. Flowed at 390/270@.700 My cam is basically a Pro Stock cam 282/304 - 929/925 That said, the more my heads flow, the better off I am. Any ideas. Obviously, this isn't a budget build...LOL Looking for something that flows closer to 500/350

Thanks in advance.

Looking for an alternative to my current heads. They are ETP C5R 265's. Flowed at 390/270@.700 My cam is basically a Pro Stock cam 282/304 - 929/925 That said, the more my heads flow, the better off I am. Any ideas. Obviously, this isn't a budget build...LOL

Thanks in advance.

This isn't really an advanced topic so it really doesn't belong in the Advanced Tech section. This belongs in an Internals section.

A lot more info is needed to make any kind of educated guess as to what would be an appropriate cylinder head. "The more flow, the better" mentality is a very poor mentality to have when selecting heads. There really is a lot more to it if you are trying to go fast.

"If a Pro Stock engine builder bought heads the way most people do on the internet they would never qualify, I guarantee it." - Joe Mendelis

This isn't really an advanced topic so it really doesn't belong in the Advanced Tech section. This belongs in an Internals section.

A lot more info is needed to make any kind of educated guess as to what would be an appropriate cylinder head. "The more flow, the better" mentality is a very poor mentality to have when selecting heads. There really is a lot more to it if you are trying to go fast.

"If a Pro Stock engine builder bought heads the way most people do on the internet they would never qualify, I guarantee it." - Joe Mendelis

I was only soliciting opinions. Head porting and massaging is more of an art than a science. Trust me, I am well aware of the requirements of what it takes to build a high HP LSX motor. Sorry to have intruded on your party...

I was only soliciting opinions. Head porting and massaging is more of an art than a science. Trust me, I am well aware of the requirements of what it takes to build a high HP LSX motor. Sorry to have intruded on your party...

LOL, hey I don't make the rules. No need to get butthurt. What belongs in this section is clearly outlined in the guidlines. I guess you missed it, so let me help you out some more.


This forum will be reserved for highly technical discussions involving performance engineering, design, theory, or mathematics. Advanced topics can be related to engines, performance parts, EFI computer diagnostics and tuning, suspension design and geometry, poweradders, etc...

Examples of threads we consider advanced:

NO: "Which heads are the best?"
YES: "What are the desirable characteristics of intake port design, in terms of velocity, flow, and surface texture?"

Your post sounds a lot more like "what heads are best" example, rather than the more technical example.

LOL, hey I don't make the rules. No need to get butthurt. What belongs in this section is clearly outlined in the guidlines. I guess you missed it, so let me help you out some more.



Your post sounds a lot more like "what heads are best" example, rather than the more technical example.

Jeez...Ok. Let me clarify. I am looking for someone who can port (or recommend) a head that will flow in the range specified. Do you really think that there is ANYONE in the "regular" sections who have that kind of information? I guess I would have been better off just picking up the phone and talking to Robin or (Pro Stock) John...

I have all of the technical data from my motor required to build what I want, I only need someone who can provide the product or service required for my goals. I posted in here because I'm asking for something that might be a bit more pricey (and complicated) than anything discussed in the regular sections of the board. So, am I asking who has the best off theshelf heads? No. I am looking for a professional head porter or designer that can meet my goals. Again, no budget or limit here....

Jeez...Ok. Let me clarify. I am looking for someone who can port (or recommend) a head that will flow in the range specified. Do you really think that there is ANYONE in the "regular" sections who have that kind of information? I guess I would have been better off just picking up the phone and talking to Robin or (Pro Stock) John...

Yes, there surely are people in the "regular" sections who can help you out. The "regular" sections are meant for EXACTLY what you're asking. There is even a thread roughly 10 pages long discussing the top LSx head porters in the US. This section, however, is meant to discuss the theory behind your head selection, to discuss ideas. You are basically just window shopping.


I have all of the technical data from my motor required to build what I want, I only need someone who can provide the product or service required for my goals. I posted in here because I'm asking for something that might be a bit more pricey (and complicated) than anything discussed in the regular sections of the board. So, am I asking who has the best off theshelf heads? No. I am looking for a professional head porter or designer that can meet my goals. Again, no budget or limit here....

The fastest All Motor LSX stuff seems to be coming out of Texas, so that's where I would start if I were you. Casey Snyder has been doing the heads for the SAM team and there is also Greg Goode, who did Joe and Amber Honeycutt's heads, and they're both out of Houston literally within a few miles of eachother. I'm 100% sure either one of those guys will get you where you want to be.

The fastest All Motor LSX stuff seems to be coming out of Texas, so that's where I would start if I were you. Casey Snyder has been doing the heads for the SAM team and there is also Greg Goode, who did Joe and Amber Honeycutt's heads, and they're both out of Houston literally within a few miles of eachother. I'm 100% sure either one of those guys will get you where you want to be.

THAT is what I was looking for. Thanks! btw - I'm already at over 800 N/A HP, I'm just looking for the last 200+ That it's capable of...

Looking for something that flows closer to 500/350


Get a BBC :chug:

Even old pro stock truck, little chief style heads flow 450cfm.

I've always had the $100,000 idea of making a 4.5" BS LS Dart block, heads and intake :D

Get a BBC :chug:

Even old pro stock truck, little chief style heads flow 450cfm.

I've always had the $100,000 idea of making a 4.5" BS LS Dart block, heads and intake :D

LOL1 I hear you. I'm not that far off with my current setup. I'm just trying to figure out how to get another 100cfm or so out of my current heads...I need a wizard.

I'm already planning my BBC build but, I want to stay in the 500CID NHRA Pro Stock limit.

What castings would you start with though? I'm not aware of any that can be opened up that much even by the best porters out there. Maybe a Perf Inductions casting? A C5R casting? who could do it? Larry Meaux? That's who I would talk to about this venture.

As I said. I have ETP C5R 265 Heads that are CNC factory ported. I'm looking for a true wizard. Cary is too busy building his business to deal with a one-off like me. That is the primary reason I posted in here. The usual suspects just don't cut it...

As I said. I have ETP C5R 265 Heads that are CNC factory ported. I'm looking for a true wizard. Cary is too busy building his business to deal with a one-off like me. That is the primary reason I posted in here. The usual suspects just don't cut it...

Well, you can try Meaux Racing Heads and Dennis at Air Flow Development.. you'd get a better response over on www.speedtalk.com

All of that said, I believe that the heads I have are an excellent match for my goals. Just need to massage them further. The design of my shortblock/cam/intake/heads are as good as they can be except for the flow of my heads. Trust me, Don Bailey helped design my cam based on all the data and it's as good as it can get. Except for head flow, If I had 100 more CFM, I'd have 200+ more HP on the top end and THAT is what I'm looking for.

My hopes are high....Thanks for the input! I'm looking for 1000HP out of my 457...Oh, did I mention that I'm going to spray it? 500 to start...

Why not call Cary @ PI heads and get his Moses heads(canted valve) and a Marcella sheetmetal intake with twin dominators?

Why not call Cary @ PI heads and get his Moses heads(canted valve) and a Marcella sheetmetal intake with twin dominators?

Not sure that will do what I want. I have a few calls and emails into Cary. I have a perfectly good Beck intake that flows like there's no tomorrow. I just need the heads massaged. I put money on it that they will do the job.

Have you ever spoken with Richard @ WCCH About your current goals??? He Does do 1 off stuff here and there and is very knowledgeable.

mark, hit me up, i got a guy for ya...

Marcin! My Man....Wassup?

I would think the Edelbrock castings would be a great start, but since the guys at SAM have made 1000 hp with C5R castings, and since you already have them, get in touch with Casey like someone else said. Since those guys at SAM now have a CNC machine, I would bet getting stuff done will be easier.

Thanks Brian. I've got a lot of good information and contacts from this thread to follow up on. I just might have Darin Morgan interested...

try hardcorels1 forum for more contacts.

Thanks Brian. I've got a lot of good information and contacts from this thread to follow up on. I just might have Darin Morgan interested...

Unless he has specific experience with getting high flow numbers from C5R heads, I would go elsewhere.

Not taking anything away from Darin, but everyone has their specialty, and you can imagine how many hours the guys at SAM have in C5R development, probably more than anyone else in the country, and the results show.

That's what head porting is all about, whoever has the best work ethic and is willing to spend hours or weeks on a particular head, usually has the best results with that head. There are lots of generalities to making power with heads, after that it is specific experience in finding out what the head likes and what it doesn't. Otherwise one shop or person would have all the best ports for every head made, and that has never existed.

Thanks again Brian. I'll do a bit more research and talk to some of the SAM folks...

get a custom head made if you have lots of money to throw around like something with a 8 degree valve angle

not to ask a dumb question (I do that from time to time)... This is going in a GTO?

Have you considered what you are going to use for a manifold?

i would call katech if you plan on porting those C5R heads

not to ask a dumb question (I do that from time to time)... This is going in a GTO?

Have you considered what you are going to use for a manifold?

I think he said a Beck that "flows like there's no tomorrow".

I think he said a Beck that "flows like there's no tomorrow".



trying to put a definition to that.

IE... plenum volume / ITL...

etc.... etc..

[QUOTE=Brian Tooley;13627326]Unless he has specific experience with getting high flow numbers from C5R heads, I would go elsewhere. Not taking anything away from Darin, but everyone has their specialty/QUOTE]


Darin's heads/intake made 1012 hp on a naturally aspirated single 4 barrel 446 17 years ago. Producing heads/intakes that make big hp IS his specialty, regardless of cylinder head brand OR type.

You can almost make that with the heads you have. I know Don gave you a good cam as well. I wonder what is holding you back? Is this a lower compression engine for the NOS?

Casey Snyder or Greg Goode are probably the best. Also if this is a nitrous motor its never gonna make the power a good N/A engine makes. I will probably be down 75-100 from a N/A combination.

Try Al Dicksen at HRD. They did my SB2.2 heads a few years back which made roughly around 930hp or so on a 400cid SBC. The heads ended up in the 300-305cc range once they were finished. The heads peaked out around 410cfm at .900 where they stopped increasing in flow. The cam was in the neighborhood of what you have and this was using a single 4-bbl carb on a ported cast GM cup style intake. The motor was 15.5:1 and turned 9600rpm.

I would also try Curtis Boggs at RFD. You will need a much bigger intake port for your size engine in my opinion so I think those heads should be opened up to the 300cc range.

Oh and KCS...what are you a self-proclaimed moderator? Give that guy a break.

Pro stock heads flow in neighborhood of 600 cfm on the intake. They make 1500 hp. At some point the ideal becomes the victim of what can be done or what makes physical or economic sense. Maybe you need to change engines. (BTW I think ls based engines are the greatest all round engine on the planet).