EJVYFZ

iTrader: (3)

I bought my car bone stock, and thanks to all the help from the great members on this site, ive been able to mod my car to my likings, and im very happy with it. Im a college student, and a bit strapped for cash. So it takes a while to save up for all my mods. But the next thing to come will be heads. What is the best bang for the buck, considering my mods? Would it be best to buy some 243's and have them worked, or go with a more expensive package from say texas-speed? I see alot of people talk about 5.3 heads, what about those? Sorry im clueless when it comes to heads, its like when i was trying to learn all about cams a year ago. haha. Its almost overwhelming at first! But my mods are in my sig, looking for something that will give me healthy power gains but not be to expensive or radical. Thanks as always guys!

jsteele90

iTrader: (13)

ported 243s would be good for you

BaddBird

iTrader: (6)

+1 or even milled 243s with a good valve job if your on a tight budget.

jmill96Z

iTrader: (3)

This isn't the most popular choice, but.....

I think the best bang for the buck would be some CNC'd 5.3's. They can be had used with springs, for less than a grand.

mike c.

iTrader: (1)

Do it right the first time and you will be way more happy. Save a lil longer and buy some aftermarket heads.If you look you can find them used AFR 205 or TFS. 215. They offer so much more then a stock ported head. You can port the head and it ends up being just a stock ported head. I went from 378hp to 416hp going from a stock ported ls1 head from a top sponsor on this site to a AFR 205 head and 4 tenths in the 1/4mi. I then added a bigger cam,cutout and a fast intake to get 463hp.

garygnu

some 243s for $400 ,add springs and seal and a valvejob for $300 more for a 20hp increase,if you want to go the budget route.

mike c.

iTrader: (1)

Really,you think that all? Kinda like my l92 head car(stock ported head) making 530hp vs my boys tfs head car making 500hp and he out pulls me. Aftermarket heads have better velosity and make way better tq under the curve. You get what you pay for. Thats why i'm switching. Thats also why i had stock ported heads that made 378hp stang dyno and added afr 205 heads to my then ls1 and went to 416hp and gained 4 tenths in the 1/4mi. Your right,stock ported is the way to go. Tell you what. I'm removing my l92 heads for t.f.s heads. remember everyone says how great the l92 flows,so i'm sure my 258cfm l92 number will be greater then the tfs 225 head. Lets see the gain in performance i get. stay tuned.

jmill96Z

iTrader: (3)

That's exactly why I have a set of ETP's in the garage waiting on the motor. But they were expensive. Tooley has a badass CNC program for the 5.3's that make good power for a good price.

BaddBird

iTrader: (6)

No offense but the op did say, I dont think this is a pissing match thread about aftermarket castings vs ported stock castings. I think Op wants to make the most out of what he can afford.

EJVYFZ

iTrader: (3)

exactly.. i know the higher priced aftermarket heads are going to flow better. but i just dont have the money or time to work to do that now. so basically im looking at 243's then? i was thinking of buying some used ones on here, but how much does it usually run to have them ported? any idea how much hp id pick up from my stock 241's vs milled 243's? and then how much id pick up from my stock 241's vs ported 243's? thanks as always guys! keep the great info coming!

oh and what would be the pros and cons of the 243's vs say the 5.3's like jmill suggested? is it mainly a price difference or power?

garygnu

ported 243s are alittle better than ported 5.3s.a stock 243 will give you about 20 more hp over a stock 241,porting add 10 hp.porting is more desired then milling.porting helps increase head air flow.milling increases compression,which allows you to run a bigger cam .read some thread on home porting and get dremel.most ported 5.3 will have the bigger valves added,check TSP for a better understanding of ls1 head choices.

jmill96Z

iTrader: (3)

It's all in what you want out of the deal, and what you want to spend. Personally, I put my old motor in my wife's 3600lb, completely stock car, and it trapped 90mph first time at the 1/8 mile track. When the motor was in my car, it went 9.70' on the jug.

If you want a dyno queen, you may want to look towards the 243's. LOL Let the debate ensue.

EJVYFZ

iTrader: (3)

Ahh you guys are amazing.. So it sounds like maybe 243's then? Haha and no I'm not after a dyno queen considering I'm a stalled auto. Shoot I only put down 395 to the rear wheels with my current setup. I think that was still decent though?

Chris05ssTruck

iTrader: (9)

WHAT? Compression and milling allows you to run a bigger cam?

To the OP TEA makes a badass 243 head. They have good flow #'s (which are NOT everything) and i have seen them make good power time and time again.

BaddBird

iTrader: (6)

395rwhp is not bad for cam only a4 get your hands on a set of 243s and send them to TEA. Last time I checked it was around $1100 to have a set stage 1 Cnc ported, valve job, and milled with new springs. If you have them milled to 62cc and run mls .051" gaskets that will bump up your compression to 11:1.

litle88

iTrader: (20)

WOW dont even get me started on TEA!
I had to pull my heads off 2x's so they can fix poor workmanship on my TRickflows!

BaddBird

iTrader: (6)

You going to give any details of the poor workmanship?

litle88

iTrader: (20)

You have a PM sir

Chris05ssTruck

iTrader: (9)

I saw your thread. Only person i have seen with bad luck from them.
You get it all sorted out?