mixtape

Hey guys, I currently have a '94 Impala SS engine that I'm looking to put into my '94 Camaro (the stock Z28 engine developed a rod knock). So I'm planning on swapping aluminum heads onto the Impala's LT1 before the install, but I wasn't sure about the intake manifold. I know that the heads are different, but are F-body intake manifolds the same as B-bodies? Should I use the Impala's intake manifold with aluminum heads?

Thanks guys

boostedlt1

iTrader: (2)

manifolds are the same

mixtape

Thanks man, I appreciate the reply. Glad to know both cars use the same intake manifolds. Makes one thing easy lol. So to clarity, every B-body and F-Body uses aluminum intakes? Or every B-body and F-Body uses iron intakes?

scj

iTrader: (89)

both intakes are aluminum.

BALLSS

and the iron heads flow more than stock F-body AL heads.

the F-body/Vette LT1 made 270 FWHP and B-body made 260 FWHP. Cams are different

mixtape

I did a little searching around my area yesterday and found a guy selling ported heads for the Lt1. He won't ship them, but thankfully he's roughly 2 hours away. Here's a quote of his email:

I can probably talk him down to $600 for the heads without valve covers or roller rockers. I don't know much about ported head pricing, but that seems like a decent price for ported heads. Is it really possible to gain 7 tenths in the quarter by porting? Or is he pulling my chain a bit a bit?

He also has 1.6 ratio Crane Gold Race roller rockers 3/8" stud self aligning for $275 obo which I might also pick up, but I heard that Comp Pro Magnum Rocker Arms-Self Aligning (1318-16) were much more quiet than the Crane Golds.

I also found a guy much closer to me selling stock aluminum heads, which he had checked for cracks and such. He decided to go aftermarket for heads so he offered them to me for $100.

So it comes down to ported "to the max" heads for $600 or stock aluminum heads that were checked out by a local shop. My budget is tight, but these two sets of heads are definitely within my budget. Any thoughts guys? Thanks!

Also, for what it's worth, I might be going with a Crane 227 or CC503 cam.

30696bird

iTrader: (4)

Ported to the "max" does not mean jack. I would RUN far away from them. That's just me though. For a few hundred more you could have a great set of heads that are proven....

boosted LT1

iTrader: (3)

Intakes are the same.

Aluminum heads have smaller combustion chambers and the cams are different.

Iron 64 CC aluminum claims on line are 52 - 54 CC

Iron cam is 191/196 (.421/.431) Aluminum is 202/208 (.450/.460)

If you try to use the small cam with ALuminum heads you will have trouble so if you change heads use matching cam.

Good luck

mixtape

I thought $600 for ported heads sounded too good to be true. Yea when I read "ported to the max" I had to put it in quotes. I was a little leery myself.

Technically I still have the aluminum heads that are still on the rod knocked stock engine, but I was hoping to stay away from re-using any questionable parts. The car had an oil leak and was burning oil too prior to the rod knock, so I'm not sure what exactly is to blame. It's most likely the intake manifold, but I figured it wasn't worth re-using the stock Camaro's head and bringing over problems to the much better running Impala engine.