LS1 Heads and Cam Package
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Indiana
LS1 Heads and Cam Package I have a 02 TA, with 35k miles.. and T56, I want a good package that gives me more rwhp and rwtq, Im open to any suggestions. Im just not looking to piece anything togther.. ive read a few threads similar but from 5 or 6 yrs ago.. things have changed since then so I want to know who can help me out, thanks
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Indiana
Not yet, I was looking to gather everything at once, the headers and heads and cam.. and maybe an intake and put it all on in a weekend or so. which headers do you think I should run?
I only ask about headers because the head and cam selections that work with headers are different from those that work with stock exhaust manifolds.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Indiana
I like the L92/LS3 64-72cc Stage 2.5 Cylinder Heads Fully CNC Ported & Assembled With Factory GM 2.165" Intake Valves and 1.59" Exhaust package, I dont know which cam to run. that will give me the best torque and hp with compromising much drive ability but will give me the nice choppy idle.
I don't think that head will work - I am assuming you are starting with a stock bore (346 cubic inch) LS1. The maximum heads for that block generally have intake valves no larger than 2.02. The most popular being Trick Flow 215s, PRC 215s, or AFR 215s. Trick Flow also offers a 220cc As Cast, which an as cast version of its Trick Flow 215s, but significantly cheaper. Vengenace Racing offers these in a nice package with your choice of cams and supporting hardware.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Indiana
I don't think that head will work - I am assuming you are starting with a stock bore (346 cubic inch) LS1. The maximum heads for that block generally have intake valves no larger than 2.02. The most popular being Trick Flow 215s, PRC 215s, or AFR 215s. Trick Flow also offers a 220cc As Cast, which an as cast version of its Trick Flow 215s, but significantly cheaper. Vengenace Racing offers these in a nice package with your choice of cams and supporting hardware.
Trending Topics
I am not good at guessing horsepower gains on other makes. My CTS-V has more parasitic driveline loss than other cars so I am used to lower numbers. I am confident however, that with headers, the VRX4 cam included in that Vengeance package you should hit at least 425 rwhp with a good tune. I think others will agree or guess higher. Those 220 as cast heads have room to grow also since they can be improved with additional porting/runner work.
Last edited by Darkman; May 30, 2011 at 03:02 PM.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
You can't run ls3 style heads on an ls1. They are designed for ls2/ls3/l92/etc..
What is your budget.. You could range from a basic cam stage 1 ls6 head pacesetters... all the way up to custom grind AFR heads book headers.
What are your goals? Track times mph and et? Rwhp goal? DD? Weekend warrior? How much street time how much track time? Have you made budget for a clutch and rear end as well, how much for these? Do you have access to get a dyno tune or will you be stuck with a mail order? Will you be adding a power added down the road? Nitrous blower turbo? Do you want a more stealthy setup or a drag car sound?
Answer those the best possible and we will get somewhere..
What is your budget.. You could range from a basic cam stage 1 ls6 head pacesetters... all the way up to custom grind AFR heads book headers.
What are your goals? Track times mph and et? Rwhp goal? DD? Weekend warrior? How much street time how much track time? Have you made budget for a clutch and rear end as well, how much for these? Do you have access to get a dyno tune or will you be stuck with a mail order? Will you be adding a power added down the road? Nitrous blower turbo? Do you want a more stealthy setup or a drag car sound?
Answer those the best possible and we will get somewhere..
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Indiana
You can't run ls3 style heads on an ls1. They are designed for ls2/ls3/l92/etc..
What is your budget.. You could range from a basic cam stage 1 ls6 head pacesetters... all the way up to custom grind AFR heads book headers.
What are your goals? Track times mph and et? Rwhp goal? DD? Weekend warrior? How much street time how much track time? Have you made budget for a clutch and rear end as well, how much for these? Do you have access to get a dyno tune or will you be stuck with a mail order? Will you be adding a power added down the road? Nitrous blower turbo? Do you want a more stealthy setup or a drag car sound?
Answer those the best possible and we will get somewhere..
What is your budget.. You could range from a basic cam stage 1 ls6 head pacesetters... all the way up to custom grind AFR heads book headers.
What are your goals? Track times mph and et? Rwhp goal? DD? Weekend warrior? How much street time how much track time? Have you made budget for a clutch and rear end as well, how much for these? Do you have access to get a dyno tune or will you be stuck with a mail order? Will you be adding a power added down the road? Nitrous blower turbo? Do you want a more stealthy setup or a drag car sound?
Answer those the best possible and we will get somewhere..
My budget is pretty open.. just nothing crazy if that helps, I dont know about track times, but RWHP... I want about 450... more or less.. ALOT of Street time, minimun track time.. maybe a few passes. I dont want to upgrade the rearend or clutch at this time.. Unless its needed to get 420-500 rwhp.. which I doubt unless I am wrong.. I do have access to a dyno tuner up. No power adders no time soon.. I want all motor. and no drag car sound because this is my daily driver..
You've got to be more specific if you want a recommendation from the forum or a vender
If it is strickly a DD or "fun street car" that won't spend much time at the track, you will want to stay in the "mid size cam, small head port" range (cam 224-230 and 205-215 ports) for good part throttle drivability
If you don't care as much about gas milage, zero maintance, etc, you can go more toward the 236-246 cams, and 225 port heads
If money is no object like it sounds, just take it to one of the LSx vendors in your area and have them install everything at one time, tune it and be done
500rwhp will require some serious parts, adn yes, it will also require a better clutch
If it is strickly a DD or "fun street car" that won't spend much time at the track, you will want to stay in the "mid size cam, small head port" range (cam 224-230 and 205-215 ports) for good part throttle drivability
If you don't care as much about gas milage, zero maintance, etc, you can go more toward the 236-246 cams, and 225 port heads
If money is no object like it sounds, just take it to one of the LSx vendors in your area and have them install everything at one time, tune it and be done
500rwhp will require some serious parts, adn yes, it will also require a better clutch
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Indiana
You've got to be more specific if you want a recommendation from the forum or a vender
If it is strickly a DD or "fun street car" that won't spend much time at the track, you will want to stay in the "mid size cam, small head port" range (cam 224-230 and 205-215 ports) for good part throttle drivability
If you don't care as much about gas milage, zero maintance, etc, you can go more toward the 236-246 cams, and 225 port heads
If money is no object like it sounds, just take it to one of the LSx vendors in your area and have them install everything at one time, tune it and be done
500rwhp will require some serious parts, adn yes, it will also require a better clutch
If it is strickly a DD or "fun street car" that won't spend much time at the track, you will want to stay in the "mid size cam, small head port" range (cam 224-230 and 205-215 ports) for good part throttle drivability
If you don't care as much about gas milage, zero maintance, etc, you can go more toward the 236-246 cams, and 225 port heads
If money is no object like it sounds, just take it to one of the LSx vendors in your area and have them install everything at one time, tune it and be done
500rwhp will require some serious parts, adn yes, it will also require a better clutch
12 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 815
Likes: 2
From: Chicago, IL
They do make a small bore L92 LS3 head for us LS6/LS1 guys 
That ways you can run the L76 intake as well... But as for a good head I would look into the PRC 2.5 5.3 head and top that with a FAST 102 intake as for a Cam I would talk to TSP and tell them what you are looking for and go from there... Best of luck
That ways you can run the L76 intake as well... But as for a good head I would look into the PRC 2.5 5.3 head and top that with a FAST 102 intake as for a Cam I would talk to TSP and tell them what you are looking for and go from there... Best of luck 
My budget is pretty open.. just nothing crazy if that helps, I dont know about track times, but RWHP... I want about 450... more or less.. ALOT of Street time, minimun track time.. maybe a few passes. I dont want to upgrade the rearend or clutch at this time.. Unless its needed to get 420-500 rwhp.. which I doubt unless I am wrong.. I do have access to a dyno tuner up. No power adders no time soon.. I want all motor. and no drag car sound because this is my daily driver..
afr 215/g5x3
tfs 215/vindicator
prc 215/ms3 or tsunami
fast 90/92/102
good day
