Rebuilt stock heads with future boost
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Teching In
Joined: Apr 2021
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Rebuilt stock heads with future boost I am a total ls noob when it comes to wrenching on LSs. I want to do my first complete rebuild with a $free$ Lq4 block that just needs a crank kit. While I have it apart I wanted to upgrade the valvetrain but I am stuck on if I should buy just the valve train upgrades(cam, valves, springs, rockers, push rods, lifters, etc ) and keep the stock heads and maybe port them or should I upgrade the heads as well(i really want to save money I'm on a "married" budget)? Keep in mind I would like to add boost in the not so near future. With that being said I also would want to know if I would be okay running a valvetrain setup to handle boost without actually having a boost?
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2020
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Not sure what kind of budget your on, (assuming its tight), or your goals, but I would reassemble the LQ4 and run the stock heads but with a BTR stage 2 turbo cam kit ($800). Id really like to say porting the stock heads wouldnt be worth it unless your really going max effort with it. Most of the cathedral port heads flow enough CFM to support more power than what the stock casting deck can handle. id say your probably couldn't go wrong with just leaving the bottom end stock but giving it some ring gap for later. Even with that cam without boost it will still make more power NA than stock. Also that kit comes with everything you need to assemble the heads. Just my 2c.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 3
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I am on a tight budget I wanna keep the rebuild cheap for now because I'm putting this in a 78 firebird and I want to leave room in the budget for suspension upgrades. Your suggestions exactly what I wanted to hear just didn't know if what I had planned was worth the effort. I think I will shy away from porting the heads. seems like it's not worth the time or money.
The guys are correct, if you're adding boost at some point, the cam is a place where you can save money because even the inexpensive stock GM cams will perform very admirably. Good engine assembly discipline (good deck surfaces on block and heads, good fasteners, proper torque specifications, torque patterns, etc) along with the spring upgrades should do you well even with stock heads. There's phenomenal videos out there of people making astonishing power using high mileage all stock internals and heads under boost.
I have a stock cam from a 2005 GTO and some low mileage used LS9 springs if you want them. $100 plus shipping Run some LS9 head gaskets and a turbo from VS racing and you will make as much power as your fuel injectors can feed it.
