FD3SLS1

iTrader: (1)

OK here is the deal I have a pair of stock 5.3l heads sitting in the garage right now and I have good valve spring and ti retainers on my stock heads now. So do I get the 5.3s ported with bigger valves and swap my springs and retainers for $900 or do I buy a set of AFR 225cc heads for $2400-2500. We are looking at a $1500 difference is the power of the AFRs over the 5.3 heads worth $1500 ....help me decied.

Here are the other parts in my combo

Custom longtube headers 1 7/8 with 3" coll. then a dual 2.5" catback
F13 cam
Fast 90mm intake
NW 90mm TB
ASP underdrive crank pulley
SLP 85 mm MAF
and 42 lbs/hr injectors


If you vote other please post, and why?

cantdrv65

iTrader: (3)

In my opinion no...Id go with a CNCd Ls6 head....If you do decide on the AFRs go with the 205s, they are the better performers coming from the AFR house. At least that is what I have seen.

SVT THIS

iTrader: (27)

You could go with the small bore AFR 225s. I voted for the stage 3 5.3s because you said MOST hp per $. Peak numbers might be close, but I think you will have more torque and power under the curve with AFRs. I originally wanted to go the most cost effective route, however, heads are one of the most important aspects of a well built engine. I decided to save a bit and hopefully get some ETP 215s or 225s.

On a side note, you might want to check PV clearance with the stage 3 on the 5.3 heads with the F13 cam.

ROCNDAV

iTrader: (100)

I was contemplating this issue too. I finally said screw it, saved up the extra dough and went with the AFRs.

ChucksZ06

iTrader: (9)

The afr heads are kind of like the fast intake. You might get another 20 horsepower for another 1,000 dollars. In my opinion mildly ported stock heads, a good cam, ls6 intake, headers, and a good exhaust system are the most bang for our buck. A couple thousand dollars can get you 150 extra hp...after that the horsepower gets real expensive. Just think, to go from 450 to 500 you will need to spend 2500 on heads and 1,000 on an intake. So you could say the last 50 hp cost twice as much as the first 150 did.

ROCNDAV

iTrader: (100)

Damn good post! It like it cost xx to get into the 11s, more for 10s, even more for 9s and so on

FD3SLS1

iTrader: (1)

Well I was going to build a slp 402 with et 245s but I have bought another car to make my fast car. So I'm going to do a mild heads and cam setup on this car and then the other rx7 is going to get a 6.0l longblock, turbo 400 and t-76 to start with then more later down the road.

So I don't want to spend $3000 to get 475+ rwhp when I can get 450+ rwhp for $1000.

Right now the car is putting down 350 rwhp and yes that is low for the mods done to the car. So I'm thinking with the fast 90/90 setup, all of the bolt-ons and a set of 5.3 heads the car should put down 450 maybe 475 with a good tune. I think 450-475 rwhp in a 2700 lbs rx7 should move pretty good and then there is always that little blue bottle if I need to go a little faster.

allngn_c5

iTrader: (3)

AFR 225's are way to big. You might want to go the Patriot route you mentioned. If the heads are too big your car will be a dog on the street. Are you DD as well as 1/4 mile racing? Race only get the AFR's or something else big to take advantage of being WOT for 10+ seconds. JMO GOOD LUCK BRO !!

Hemi Killer

iTrader: (6)

My vote is for patriot. Gunnar is awesome to deal with. The patriot heads are by far the best bang for the buck.

n20stroker

iTrader: (11)

I voted for the Patroit stage 3 heads. I did a buget 402 build and used stage 3 heads from Patroit. The car made 515rwhp and 495 rwtq N/A on a engine set up for NOS. Heads ran me 1195 shipped.

fotoboy

iTrader: (1)

Patriot ls6 1200 buck with head gskets, head bolts, crank bolt! the extras will cost you over 100 bucks more

H/c m6 c5
440 rwhp 406 rwtq

ps. I know someone selling a set of 5.3 stge 2 pp heads reconditioned for 700 bucks

khris99s

iTrader: (1)

Patriot IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO. I would venture to say that most people on this forum are't loaded. Otherwise there would be alot more of us with the new C6 ZO6. All said and done PP is the greatest for the budget minded. Like the guy above said. Kinda like the Fast setup that little bit extra isn't really worth it. At least not in my book. Good luck with whatever you choose.

DavidNJ

You could also do as cast Dart 205s. When the Trick Flows come out they may be less than the AFRs. And the World heads will probably be similar in price to the as cast Darts.

There are options other than the stock heads. One advantage of all these heads is a more advanced combustion chamber design.

408WS6

iTrader: (1)

I would not go with an AFR 225 or any stage 3 on a stock cubed motor. If you've got something like a 383 or 408 thats a different story. But you'll be throwing your money away. Go with the AFR 205. Or if you want to save money go with the Patriot LS6 stage II head.

FD3SLS1

iTrader: (1)

Well it looks like the Patriot Stg 3 heads are going to be it, due to the money difference. Yes I may be losing a little bit of power, but what I lose with the heads I'll make up with the nitrous

mike c.

iTrader: (1)

just save some more money and get the AFR heads. but, like one said if you have a stock ci motor get the 205 heads. the AFR 205 heads gained me 47hp on a mustang dyno.

Tech

iTrader: (1)

If I were you... I'd only want to buy heads once. AFR

FD3SLS1

iTrader: (1)

I understand about buying heads once, but this won't be the last motor this car is going to see. Yea I could spend the money on the 225s now on the stock bottom end but if I build a 400+ ci stroker and I most likely will within the next year or two. Then the 225s aren't going to cut it and I would need ET 245s or 255s to make some real power. So either way I would be buying heads twice. Plus if I decied to sale the Patriot heads later I won't take as big of a lost as if I was to sell the AFRs.

The extra $1500 price difference will buy the 6.0l longblock for my TT LS1/RX-7 project that I'm getting ready to start.

Gunnar@Patriot

iTrader: (20)

Thanks to everyone for the good words about our products in this thread. We are always working to improve our products. As many of you know, we have a wonderful product at a great price. Our products are of high quality and a very effective means of gaining the most power for the money spent.

Our dedication to produce only the best quality products at the best price, will continue with not only our new products, but also through continued R&D of our current products.

This may sound like the stereo typical coporate reply, but believe us when we say that each day we reconstruct what it takes to please the public. We know that customers only want the very best at the best possible price; this is what we are driven to provide.

In the coming months, we will help alleviate the high pricing of titanium retainers. We have in mind to release approx. 10 of the most popular retainer sizes.

Predator

There's your answer.