01transampower

iTrader: (9)

I am looking at doing heads and a cam all at once. I was wondering which heads were better a set of 5.3 heads or some LS6 heads? Any input?

Cstone812

iTrader: (5)

Heads*

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

5.3 heads bump compression pretty good but have smaller valves

LS6 heads have bigger valves and only bump compression a little over LS1 heads.

LS6 head is the better performer stock hands down.

Canbarelygo

but if your gonna buy some from texas speed id say go with the 5.3s definately. or if your not lookin to spend a ton you could be sneaky and have a machinist put your bigger valves out of your ls1 heads in the 5.3 heads

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I would choose LS6 heads if I had the choice between those 2.....

01transampower

iTrader: (9)

whats the major cost difference between the two heads? or is there any?

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I think a few hundred if you are referring to the CNC'd versions. If you are talking about stock, 5.3 heads go for probably $50-100, LS6 heads will pull $400-600 a pair all day depending on mileage and condition.

Canbarelygo

stock 5.3 heads are dirt cheap as stated. but if your goin for some texas speed heads why not go with the 5.3s because its more compression without sacrificing ptv clearance and they flow very close to the same and at the stage 2.5 cnc level the 5.3s are a few hundred dollars cheaper and you could probably save even more by buying your own 5.3s and sending em to texas speed for them to cnc im sure there is some money to be saved using your own cores.

i know ls6 heads get the better support for whatever reason im just saying dont count the 5.3s out at all

brianw401

iTrader: (4)

Nicely put canbarelygo. TSP has great cnc head options. They have helped me a ton with my project.

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

For a stock cube engine I would go for the ported 5.3 heads over the LS6. Both are very good but the extra compression from the smaller 5.3 chamber will make more power without sacrificing valve clearance.

I had the TSP stg 2.5 5.3 heads and swapped to the TFS 215's and there was no difference in my 1/4 mile ET. Both heads were milled to 58ccs so the CR was the same. To date my fastest pass is still from the 5.3 heads at a 10.56 and the TFS heads have got me a best of 10.58. Now the weather may have been a bit better on the 10.56 pass but the new heads have been run in some decent air too.

I am in no way discounting the TFS heads because everyone knows they are good. I am trying to point out how good the PRC heads are. Also I doubt anyone will say that the PRC LS6 heads are better than TFS and that's my main point. I have not tested the PRC 5.3's vs the LS6 but I doubt the results would be any different than my 5.3 vs TFS heads.

Everyone likes to say the LS6 heads are so much better but the truth is that for the money the 5.3's are the way to go. Bigger cubes and the LS6 heads may have an advantage but the fact is that a 346 will only pump so much air. Now if you are talking about stock for stock then go with the LS6 heads for sure.

01transampower

iTrader: (9)

Well my goal for now is to just build a 400+ horse street monster. Then after school build it how I want. So I figured get a Thunder racing 224/228 cam and some 5.3 heads or ls6 heads. But from what im hearing get some 5.3 heads and have them revalved. Would I be able to hit that goal doing this? Just as an option. New heads are out of the question do to school comes first.

5.3LJimmy

iTrader: (10)

Re-read my last sentence.

garygnu

look at a tsp head/cam pkg,a 228r cam pkg or bigger will meet your goals.add a ls6 intake and a good exhaust and tune.

01transampower

iTrader: (9)

The exhaust is done already. Yea i will look at tsp and see what i can do. If not I will get the pices and parts and put it together.