Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

I've had a special set of heads made for my latest project. My goal is to make over 400rwhp NA with stock exhaust manifolds, stock cats, and SLP dual dual exhaust and a really smooooooth idling cam. To do it, I'll need some really awesome heads with high velocity ports and STRONG flow numbers in the mid-lifts.

Judson Massingill from the School of Automotive Machinists in Houston delivered! Judson had chief head porting instructor Casey Snider unleash his magic on a set of 4.8L heads. The bare castings were sent to TEA for their latest Stage 1.5 porting and then Casey and crew did an incredible job hand finishing them. The heads were flowed on a calibrated SF600 bench with a 3.900" bore at 28" H2O and the following numbers are the average across all ports (ie some ports flowed slightly more).
intake, exhaust (no pipe)
.200" 143, 110
.300" 217, 153
.400" 261, 192
.500" 297, 216
.600" 316, 227
.700" 323, 236

Check out those number at 3, 4, and 5...amazing numbers for factory 4.8L castings and 2.00" intake valves and 1.55 exhaust valves. Granted, these are trick Ferrea valves with a really, really nice valve job, but it all goes to show that you don't need huge valves to flow nice numbers at mid lifts. The mid-lift flow and the small intake runners will be key in achieving my goal of 400+ rwhp with stock exhaust. Just consider it my way of building the ultimate sleeper. Smooth idling cam, great fuel economy, quiet exhaust. The cam choice is classified right now, but I'll disclose all the info once the combo is installed and running (late April).

It's a shame SAM doesn't port heads for the masses. They could make a lot of happy racers out there, although I have to admit, these heads took a lot of man hours and weren't cheap (don't ask). Just wanted to share the numbers to see what others thought. By the way, Thunder Racing is going to flow them on their bench too right before we install them so I look forward to providing 3rd party flow numbers in case anyone is raising the BS flag.

Richard@WCCH

iTrader: (3)

Very impressive. That kind of intake flow is normally seen with much larger valves. What are the port volumes?

Good luck with your project,

Richard

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

Any chance of you putting up some pics and any "what
they did, what they didn't" info you have for us home-
porting fools? I'm looking to do the same sort of thing
(sleeper with good mid-lift) on 317s and might as well
learn from the master craftsman, whatever can be seen.

gollum

iTrader: (1)

Maybe the same could be done with the easier to obtain AFR 205 heads and ThunderRacing's "OLD MAN" cam 214/220, 115 lsa, 600/523 lift.

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

I don't have the port volume cc's yet, but I understand they're small (215cc or smaller).
We're talking the same language. That would be an excellent idea. Stay tuned for results of Thunder Racing's new "Cheater Cam". It's a little hotter version of the "Old Man Cam".

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

Jimmy, I'll post pictures of the ports and valves in a few days.

ONEBADWS6

iTrader: (22)

Awsome #'s

matts22

iTrader: (2)

That's pretty amazing. I'd like to see the 3rd party flow numbers, so I'm looking forward to that.

2001 Pewter WS6

iTrader: (43)

I am anxious to see this be done with stock manifolds and cats. The stock manifolds were a HUGE bottle neck when I was trying something sililar with a TR224. I think what ever cam you pick is going to need a lot of exhaust duration...

matts22

iTrader: (2)

I was thinking that too. Is there any reason you are keeping the stock manifolds? I mean, is it for emissions reasons or what?

DAPSUPRSLO

iTrader: (14)

That is absolutely amazing port work. Congradulations to you and SAM. I would deffinately want something with a very agressive intake lobe for the amount of flow you have with those heads, plus they flow up to .700". Remember though, these heads will loose more in the big lift range when you bolt on any lsx style intake (ls1/ls6/lsx 75 or 90). Also remember that valve train deflection really impacts what lift is actually seen at the intake valve verses what lift is supposed to be supplied to the intake valve. I like an lsk lobe for you (only on the intake) but that is just me. Geoff or Jason will take care of you though. Good luck.

CAT3

iTrader: (9)

At least swap out to 01-02 manifolds, since they flow better.

cyphur

iTrader: (10)

Great numbers man. TEA's new program looks like to be a winner!! Especially with a good hand finish.

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

Good question. This is my 4th LS1 F-body. The first 3 were modified in different ways. Two were heads/cam/headers combinations (both with and without cats). Two of them were heavy nitrous addicts. The big thing I love about my current car is how nice it sounds and drives. No shaky idle, no tinny exhaust sounds coming from headers, no rasp from running an ORY, no stinky exhaust fumes and great gas mileage.

If you've ever driven a bone stock Z06, you'll know what kind of driving experience I'm after: Tons of power, but with a very high level of sophistication, ie low levels of noise, vibration and harshness. My new project will look stock, sound stock, and run around town like stock until you put your foot into it. 400 rwhp with stock manners has a ton of appeal for me. Also doing something not many others have tried has a lot of appeal too. These SAM heads are one of the key components to achieving my goals. The new Thunder cam is the other key component.

Patrick G

iTrader: (14)

2000 F-bodies share the same manifolds as the '01-02s...they just have an EGR provision.

Flareside

Sounds like a great plan. I've got something similar, my LS1 C5 is running AFR heads and an LPE GT2-3 cam. Sure, it doesn't make quite as much midrange torque as a cam with more overlap would, and it's not quite as strong a header car at the peak, but I don't believe the differences are as big as people think. With the right gearing (4.10 here), this combo makes way more power than the tires can hold in the first few gears.

My wife drove the car to work today for the first time since I installed the heads, cam, and gears this winter. She couldn't believe how well it runs, it's actually smoother than stock. It's the first time that she liked our coupe better than the stock Z06s that she's driven.

Once I get the new differential break-in completed, it's off to the dyno. It won't make 400rwhp, but I'm hoping for 375 or so. I'm shooting for 400 in the future with a few more mild, undetectable mods. We'll see...

Brian Tooley Racing

iTrader: (13)

cough, cough, 217 @ .300" cough, cough,

Casey has been holding out on us, what about it Casey, what valve angles and seat angles??

Those are the kind of mid lift flow #'s P.P. is getting out of the "new" head we are working on, and you got that with a 4.8/5.3 head?

z-ya

iTrader: (1)

Was the intake port floor raised by chance?

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

What was the deciding factor in using a 4.8 head for this application?

30th t/a

iTrader: (51)

i know exactly what your talking about with the z06. my buddy has a 03 and its a dream to ride in, smooth, quiet and even though my car beats it...everytime he jumps on it, it PLANTS me into the seat and thats puts a smile on my face. i cant wait to see how you do. good luck!

do you think a lsx 90mm would help or would it be to big? maybe the lsx 78mm?