LSA heads on LQ4 (NA)

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Jan 10, 2013 | 09:05 PM

BigEFan

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LSA heads on LQ4 (NA)

Wondering if anyone has attempted to use the new low priced LSA heads with ls3 valves on a lq4? I picked up a set bare off of ebay for $440 shipped.

I saw that the LSA's didn't flow as well as the LS3's but I'm wondering if your goal is 425-450 rwhp if it matters?

I am tempted to removed the swirl wings and put them on.

Does anyone have any experience using these heads for NA engines?

Any help will be appreciated.

Jan 11, 2013 | 09:22 PM

BigEFan

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Hopefully someone has done this. I read a thread somewhere that they were good to 500hp. Wondering how they would flow with the wing removed?

Jan 12, 2013 | 12:19 AM

bww3588

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I'd leave the swirl ring. It can increase low end torque. Not so much for high end, but if you have a cam spec'd around it, it would make for a killer driver.

Jan 12, 2013 | 08:32 AM

BigEFan

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That's what I was hoping. I have read enough about the LS3's that I wanted those to start with. However, it seems that the price for those heads have gone up recently. When someone posted stock flow numbers I thought I would give them a shot and worst case have them ported. The is definitely a budget build. I picked up a lq4 with harness and ecm that was in a Military contractors vehicle, 4l80e, and a 3.73 ford explorer limited slip rear all for $800. After that I bought an LS3 intake for $300 with injectors fuel rail and all gaskets.

Jan 12, 2013 | 09:16 AM

bww3588

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With the dished pistons and the larger chambers of the lsa heads, I would look into a cam with very little overlap. It may not chop as hard, but it's going to make better power by raising the dynamic compression ratio. Esp since your looking at about 10:1 with stock pistons and ccs on the heads.

Milling them can be a double edged sword. You raise compression but shroud an already shrouded valve even more.

Jan 12, 2013 | 11:27 AM

BigEFan

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That's what I'd been thinking about. 4-6 degree and at the most 8. I was looking at Thunder Racing cams and EPS but both seem to have a bunch of overlap on these type heads. I've been reading a lot of the spinmonster and Patrick G posts so I thought little overlap might be the way to go.

I'll get a cam spec'ed to be sure.