Dean-o

Are stage 2 heads that much better than stage 1 heads to justify the cost difference. They are typically about $800+ more expensive. Any opinions?

Dean

93Polo

iTrader: (5)

Who is porting the heads not all stage 1 and stage 2 heads are equal?

Dean-o

MTI heads, I know the differences between the two, I am just wondering if there is enough horsepower difference to justify me getting stage 2s instead of stage 1s.

Dean-o

Let me rephrase my question, does anyone know what the difference in flow rates equates to in horsepower gains?

Jantzer98SS

iTrader: (54)

Well it depends on who ports them and what Stage I & II mean. What sponsers don't want you to know is that most Stage I's will run nearly as good if not just as good as Stage II's. The flow numbers may be better on a bench with Stage II's, but once the intake is bolted on flows drops considerably so the manifold really negates much of the gain you could realize. So stick with smaller/lighter valves and shop around, price doesn't always equal performance.

FWIW, my Stage I's with stock intake valves have taken me to 10.82. Stage II results coming this spring.....

HITMANSS

I have Absolute Stage 1x heads, w/ stock-sized swirl-polished valves, and love them. IMHO most n/a stock-displacemt street cars don't really benefit that much from larger valves. If you're trying to get down deep into the 11's, and racing every weekend, then it's a different story.

TTtop

iTrader: (6)

Check the following thread as MTI was able to get some pretty good numbers out of my Stage I heads that I bought from them. The most I've seen from a hydraulic cammed 346 with Stage II heads and all the required stuff to go with them is 440-450rwhp and 400-410rwtq.

https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...;f=41;t=005168

So I think Stage I's hold their own, but if your after every last bit of power, then you'll probably want the II's.

Good Luck with your buildup! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Randy

Dean-o

Thanks,
That is what I suspected. Since my car is a daily driver like a lot of people, and the intake sucks on these cars (I'm getting a LS6 intake), and my bottom end is stock and will stay that way for a while, then I can live with the stage 1 heads. It seems they are capable of putting out some good power. Plus I can always go to stage 2 heads later and swap the stage 1s.

Dean