Head swap equates to 300 HP gain!
08-12-2007, 12:28 PM
#1
Head swap equates to 300 HP gain! This is a long read, but worth it.
So, a guy I work with goes for a ride with me in my car last week to get it weighed. On the way back, I hammered it through 2nd, 3rd, and he pussed out about midway through 4th gear, and waved his hand out for me to stop
A few more miles down the road he blurted out "it doesn't feel $2500 faster", cause he had ridden in it as a bolt-on car last summer. I was like are you serious? It gained 100RWHP and traps 10mph faster!
So he goes on to tell me that his buddy told him that the thing about LS1s is the heads are maxed out how they come, you cant get much more outta them
I told him that was BAD information, that I gained in the neighborhood of 45-50RWHP with my heads, which is a nice gain.
Here it comes.......
"Well, like on my car (69 Camaro with a 406 small block) I have some 400 horse heads. I can get some other ones, that would be 700 horse heads, and they would only cost about 1k to your $2300"
I said hang on a second, are you saying you will gain 300 HP from just swapping heads?
"Yea", he replied
I didnt say much about it at that point, cause he had drank quite a few beers.
The next day at work, I gave him a shot at redemption.....he said he still believes he would gain 300 HP by simply bolting on a set of aftermarket heads to his current car. Without changing anything else. I finally told him no way.
Throughout the morning I asked several other car guys what they thought an old school build like his would produce with a head swap, everyone said around 75ish.
There was ONE other guy in the shop to take this dudes side, and he got down right fighting mad when everyone said it wasnt possible.
I told that guy to take the car in question to the dyno, we would see what it makes, then he can bolt on a set of heads, and re-dyno it. If it gains 300 HP, I will give you my car
He said "well I would take em to a flow bench first", and another guy hollared out "I dont care if you take em to heaven, they're not gonna gain 300 HP.
What's wrong with people
So, a guy I work with goes for a ride with me in my car last week to get it weighed. On the way back, I hammered it through 2nd, 3rd, and he pussed out about midway through 4th gear, and waved his hand out for me to stop
A few more miles down the road he blurted out "it doesn't feel $2500 faster", cause he had ridden in it as a bolt-on car last summer. I was like are you serious? It gained 100RWHP and traps 10mph faster!
So he goes on to tell me that his buddy told him that the thing about LS1s is the heads are maxed out how they come, you cant get much more outta them
I told him that was BAD information, that I gained in the neighborhood of 45-50RWHP with my heads, which is a nice gain.
Here it comes.......
"Well, like on my car (69 Camaro with a 406 small block) I have some 400 horse heads. I can get some other ones, that would be 700 horse heads, and they would only cost about 1k to your $2300"
I said hang on a second, are you saying you will gain 300 HP from just swapping heads?
"Yea", he replied
I didnt say much about it at that point, cause he had drank quite a few beers.
The next day at work, I gave him a shot at redemption.....he said he still believes he would gain 300 HP by simply bolting on a set of aftermarket heads to his current car. Without changing anything else. I finally told him no way.
Throughout the morning I asked several other car guys what they thought an old school build like his would produce with a head swap, everyone said around 75ish.
There was ONE other guy in the shop to take this dudes side, and he got down right fighting mad when everyone said it wasnt possible.
I told that guy to take the car in question to the dyno, we would see what it makes, then he can bolt on a set of heads, and re-dyno it. If it gains 300 HP, I will give you my car
He said "well I would take em to a flow bench first", and another guy hollared out "I dont care if you take em to heaven, they're not gonna gain 300 HP.What's wrong with people
HAHAHA Whats that guy -->> 
Hes-->> 
08-12-2007, 02:23 PM
#3
well there actually is a company by the name of dominion that produces 4v heads for small block chevy's and they make crazy horsepower! 200hp increase is what im thinking with a mild cam. I think they are working on some for the ls based engines as well. no b.s.
08-12-2007, 09:10 PM
#4
are for the LS1 head being maxed out from the factory, how about some of these?
http://www.araoengineering.com/LSX.htm
405 cfm @ .600 which equates to about 100 more hp.... only at 8000$. I think that beats ls1, ls2, and ls7 heads by a longshot.
http://www.araoengineering.com/LSX.htm
405 cfm @ .600 which equates to about 100 more hp.... only at 8000$. I think that beats ls1, ls2, and ls7 heads by a longshot.
08-12-2007, 09:36 PM
#5
Originally Posted by Rob98LS1
are for the LS1 head being maxed out from the factory, how about some of these?
http://www.araoengineering.com/LSX.htm
405 cfm @ .600 which equates to about 100 more hp.... only at 8000$. I think that beats ls1, ls2, and ls7 heads by a longshot.
http://www.araoengineering.com/LSX.htm
405 cfm @ .600 which equates to about 100 more hp.... only at 8000$. I think that beats ls1, ls2, and ls7 heads by a longshot.
08-12-2007, 10:01 PM
#7
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You know what...people say bullshit when I tell people with my cam go from a stock car(300 wheel) to 445 wheel from just a cam basically! So, I can see how someone can be retarded and think heads will double their hp.
No, no I can't.
No, no I can't.
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08-12-2007, 10:53 PM
#8
yeah arao thats it they used to be dominion. A buddy of mine has those heads on his sbc and it is insane with just a .535 lift cam and 13.1 cr. its making around 750-800 hp
08-12-2007, 11:36 PM
#9
I machinist where I work bought a new mustang GT. He said he picked up 10mph in the 1/4 just from hacking up his stock airbox. That's about 100hp. I want your coworkers heads and my coworkers airbox. I would be unstoppable.
08-13-2007, 12:19 AM
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Originally Posted by BriancWS6
This is a long read, but worth it.
So, a guy I work with goes for a ride with me in my car last week to get it weighed. On the way back, I hammered it through 2nd, 3rd, and he pussed out about midway through 4th gear, and waved his hand out for me to stop
A few more miles down the road he blurted out "it doesn't feel $2500 faster", cause he had ridden in it as a bolt-on car last summer. I was like are you serious? It gained 100RWHP and traps 10mph faster!
So he goes on to tell me that his buddy told him that the thing about LS1s is the heads are maxed out how they come, you cant get much more outta them
I told him that was BAD information, that I gained in the neighborhood of 45-50RWHP with my heads, which is a nice gain.
Here it comes.......
"Well, like on my car (69 Camaro with a 406 small block) I have some 400 horse heads. I can get some other ones, that would be 700 horse heads, and they would only cost about 1k to your $2300"
I said hang on a second, are you saying you will gain 300 HP from just swapping heads?
"Yea", he replied
I didnt say much about it at that point, cause he had drank quite a few beers.
The next day at work, I gave him a shot at redemption.....he said he still believes he would gain 300 HP by simply bolting on a set of aftermarket heads to his current car. Without changing anything else. I finally told him no way.
Throughout the morning I asked several other car guys what they thought an old school build like his would produce with a head swap, everyone said around 75ish.
There was ONE other guy in the shop to take this dudes side, and he got down right fighting mad when everyone said it wasnt possible.
I told that guy to take the car in question to the dyno, we would see what it makes, then he can bolt on a set of heads, and re-dyno it. If it gains 300 HP, I will give you my car He said "well I would take em to a flow bench first", and another guy hollared out "I dont care if you take em to heaven, they're not gonna gain 300 HP.
What's wrong with people
So, a guy I work with goes for a ride with me in my car last week to get it weighed. On the way back, I hammered it through 2nd, 3rd, and he pussed out about midway through 4th gear, and waved his hand out for me to stop
A few more miles down the road he blurted out "it doesn't feel $2500 faster", cause he had ridden in it as a bolt-on car last summer. I was like are you serious? It gained 100RWHP and traps 10mph faster!
So he goes on to tell me that his buddy told him that the thing about LS1s is the heads are maxed out how they come, you cant get much more outta them
I told him that was BAD information, that I gained in the neighborhood of 45-50RWHP with my heads, which is a nice gain.
Here it comes.......
"Well, like on my car (69 Camaro with a 406 small block) I have some 400 horse heads. I can get some other ones, that would be 700 horse heads, and they would only cost about 1k to your $2300"
I said hang on a second, are you saying you will gain 300 HP from just swapping heads?
"Yea", he replied
I didnt say much about it at that point, cause he had drank quite a few beers.
The next day at work, I gave him a shot at redemption.....he said he still believes he would gain 300 HP by simply bolting on a set of aftermarket heads to his current car. Without changing anything else. I finally told him no way.
Throughout the morning I asked several other car guys what they thought an old school build like his would produce with a head swap, everyone said around 75ish.
There was ONE other guy in the shop to take this dudes side, and he got down right fighting mad when everyone said it wasnt possible.
I told that guy to take the car in question to the dyno, we would see what it makes, then he can bolt on a set of heads, and re-dyno it. If it gains 300 HP, I will give you my car
He said "well I would take em to a flow bench first", and another guy hollared out "I dont care if you take em to heaven, they're not gonna gain 300 HP.What's wrong with people
08-13-2007, 12:26 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by blueeyeddevil141
You know what...people say bullshit when I tell people with my cam go from a stock car(300 wheel) to 445 wheel from just a cam basically! So, I can see how someone can be retarded and think heads will double their hp.
No, no I can't.
No, no I can't.
08-13-2007, 12:31 AM
#12
I suppose if you went out & just for the sake of argument & sheer morbid curiosity took a well built ,big cam equipped, 350-402 SBC & bolted up the shittiest smog era(1980ish) tiny valve 267 cubic inch iron head & a thick head gasket, dyno'd it ,then went back with a really extesivly ported set of AFR's equipped with small chambers & cometic gaskets ,you might see some pretty lop-sided #'s..I dunno if it would be 300...
Last edited by BYE RICE; 08-13-2007 at 12:51 AM.
08-13-2007, 12:35 AM
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Originally Posted by StripedZebra
I think youre gonna be in for a big surprise when you throw that thing on a dyno.
I peaked at 419 at the wheels, cam w/ bolt ons and stock heads, I even kept close to stock power curve on lower rpm's and picked it up on the top end w/ a raised rev limit. Good for cheap track use.
08-13-2007, 01:38 AM
#14
Originally Posted by BYE RICE
I suppose if you went out & just for the sake of argument & sheer morbid curiosity took a well built ,big cam equipped, 350-402 SBC & bolted up the shittiest smog era(1980ish) tiny valve 267 cubic inch iron head & a thick head gasket, dyno'd it ,then went back with a really extesivly ported set of AFR's equipped with small chambers & cometic gaskets ,you might see some pretty lop-sided #'s..I dunno if it would be 300...
I was thinking about that too, bolt up a pair of LG4 or L03 heads. It would be like kicking your engine in the nuts. Then throw on a pair of Air flow research 225s. You MIGHT, just MIGHT see a difference...
08-13-2007, 02:53 AM
#16
Originally Posted by Rob98LS1
are for the LS1 head being maxed out from the factory, how about some of these?
http://www.araoengineering.com/LSX.htm
405 cfm @ .600 which equates to about 100 more hp.... only at 8000$. I think that beats ls1, ls2, and ls7 heads by a longshot.
http://www.araoengineering.com/LSX.htm
405 cfm @ .600 which equates to about 100 more hp.... only at 8000$. I think that beats ls1, ls2, and ls7 heads by a longshot.
I'll stick with my L92's that I have only $1000 in, fully assembled with .660 PRC Dual Coil Springs..Titanuim Retainers/Seats, Chromeoly Locks..
08-13-2007, 04:52 AM
#17
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Originally Posted by BriancWS6
...and he got down right fighting mad when everyone said it wasnt possible...
Peace,
Craig.
08-13-2007, 06:21 AM
#18
I know plenty of people like that. All you have to do is let them think what they want. I just tell people that want to talk to me about cars and motorcycles that I am just bored with them and don't care to talk about it. Works everytime. Also a good way to avoid questions like: "When I take off from a stop light I hear a popping noise. Can you fix it?" Answer is always no.
08-13-2007, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by blueeyeddevil141
You know what...people say bullshit when I tell people with my cam go from a stock car(300 wheel) to 445 wheel from just a cam basically! So, I can see how someone can be retarded and think heads will double their hp.
No, no I can't.
No, no I can't.
yeah i get that alot to, when i tell them im about to be getting a AT LEAST 50 HP gain and there like oh no way man you will get maybe 20 more horse, i don't know it agrivates me but i know the truth
