Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ls6 vs Ls2 heads?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 19, 2009 | 08:26 PM
  #1  
mtuggle86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Default Ls6 vs Ls2 heads?

sorry guys Ive searched and it seems I cant really get a straight answer on the differences I know they Both use the 243 heads casting but the ls6 has the lighter valves but what Im really concerned with it is

Do they have the same size combustion chambers and can the Ls6 heads with there slightly longer valves because of the z06 cams smaller base circle be used with a tr224 came or with I need custom pushrods?
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2009 | 11:03 PM
  #2  
claytonisbob's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Default

If they're both the same casting number (243)... the combustion chamber would be the same.

IDK about your cam question though. I was under the impression the valves are the same length but the push rods are a different length.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 12:58 PM
  #3  
5.3LJimmy's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,279
Likes: 1
From: Napoleonville, LA
Default

The LS6 heads have valves that are 0.050" longer than standard LS1 valves so you theoretically would need to run 7.350" pushrods. It's always best to measure pushrod length and know that you are using the proper length than to guess at it though. It's not really custom length as most manufactures sell pushrods in 0.025" increments, and if you upgrade the cam and springs you should be running a good set of pushrods anyway.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:03 PM
  #4  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

The 243 head is the 01+ LS6/LS2 head.
It has a smaller 64.45cc chamber for more compression (10.5 CR on LS6), 210cc intake runners, and 75cc D-shaped exhaust ports.

All three came with 2.00" intake valves, and 1.55" exhaust valves.



Of the three, the 243 (Z06) head is the most desirable for flow, and is the most popular base for further porting/modifying. Not many people mess with porting LS1 heads anymore.


And FYI for the ones you didn't mention...


5.3 truck heads (casting #862 and 706) are also a very popular base casting for porting/modifying, due to their even smaller (61.15cc) chamber size which raises compression when used on a LS1/6 engine..

6.0 truck heads (casting #317) are popular heads with the forced induction crowd, as they are basically the same as 243 heads, but with larger 71.06cc chamber size, which lowers compression when used on a LS1/6 engine.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:09 PM
  #5  
brian_rs/ss's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 3
From: Texas/Afghanistan
Default

hmmm now what if you dont wanna change the CR? is it better to just take the ls1 head p&p it and re do the valve train? keeping in mind here my car is a DD, and i dont really have much of a desire to make more than @400rwhp.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:14 PM
  #6  
NemeSS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (127)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,889
Likes: 9
From: Houston,TX
Default

Originally Posted by brian_rs/ss
hmmm now what if you dont wanna change the CR? is it better to just take the ls1 head p&p it and re do the valve train? keeping in mind here my car is a DD, and i dont really have much of a desire to make more than @400rwhp.
stock 243 is better as is. if ur gonna spend a grand plus on ported stock heads, might as well pay the extra and get aftermarket castings.
i have no prob making over 400rw with 2.02 valve, vj stock 243's
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:18 PM
  #7  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

I would not EVER IMO, waste time porting a LS1 Head. I would just find 243 heads on ebay or buy 243 heads from a aftermarket company out there. LS1 Heads flow terriable and there potintial is very low. I like a few heads out there. Of coarse AFR and Trick Flow every one and there mom will tell you to buy. Well IMO I am not going to waste 2300 dollars on heads. I would look into a few different aftermarket companies. I have always had good luck with texas speed and their products. I like the PRC 2.5 Heads in LS6 and the 5.3's. I also if you are in to newer technology go with TSP LS3 Heads which I am seriously looking in to as we speak just for the simply fact they out flow 90% of the current heads out there by 40-45 cfm's. Find a good cam, doesnt have to be big and you have a very succesful build with not a huge amount of money. I am looking into the LS3 heads for my daily driver, and just a mild to meduim camshaft with a stock or aftermarket LS3 Intake. I just think it would be a fun build and cool to have the new technology under the hood. Plus very good gains to be found with the 350-360 cfm flowing heads.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:25 PM
  #8  
brian_rs/ss's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,099
Likes: 3
From: Texas/Afghanistan
Default

o ok good stuff, heads are deffinately a high priority on my mods list, but i just didnt want to pay an ungodly amount on heads unless it was absolutely worth it.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:42 PM
  #9  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

PRC 2.5 5.3 Heads I paid 1054 bucks for flow 312cfm. LS3 Heads from TSP 1,134 Bucks and flow 350-360 cfm. A big hp differance in flow for not that much money. Espically over your stock 853 heads. 50 hp differance probably.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:56 PM
  #10  
pozesd99''s Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Default

i wish i knew about the ls3 heads before i dished out over 2600 on a set of cnc ported afr 225 cc heads... broke the bank lol
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 02:02 PM
  #11  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

Yeah But AFR is still the **** in heads!!!
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 02:09 PM
  #12  
SOMbitch's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,881
Likes: 3
Default

Guys the L92's NEED a 4.00 or LARGER bore......
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 02:11 PM
  #13  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

Yeah Just Found that out the hard way Suck!!! Just got off the phone with TSP and they broke my heart and gave me the bad news. O well, they said they would do a nice job on my 408 conversion collecting dust in my garage though
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 03:05 PM
  #14  
02*C5's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 303
From: Az
Default

Originally Posted by 99Ls1fever
I would not EVER IMO, waste time porting a LS1 Head.
Well it depends my Elliot Port Works 241 stage II(Ferrea 2.02/1.60 valves, Patriot Gold Dbl springs, Ti retainers, locks and locators, custom valve job) $1200 flow like TEA's stage 1 243's except you have to invert the 550 & 600 flow numbers and if I would have gone with his stage III they flow more like TEA's stage 2 243's it all depends on the budget, who is doing the work, and the hard wear that goes into the heads. Will 241's ever outflow 243's no. The ports, and chambers are way better than the 241's but again if the budget does not allow it and the person working on them know what they are doing its up to the individual. my .02

Last edited by 02*C5; Jul 20, 2009 at 03:13 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 03:40 PM
  #15  
NemeSS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (127)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,889
Likes: 9
From: Houston,TX
Default

Originally Posted by 02*C5
Well it depends my Elliot Port Works 241 stage II(Ferrea 2.02/1.60 valves, Patriot Gold Dbl springs, Ti retainers, locks and locators, custom valve job) $1200 flow like TEA's stage 1 243's except you have to invert the 550 & 600 flow numbers and if I would have gone with his stage III they flow more like TEA's stage 2 243's it all depends on the budget, who is doing the work, and the hard wear that goes into the heads. Will 241's ever outflow 243's no. The ports, and chambers are way better than the 241's but again if the budget does not allow it and the person working on them know what they are doing its up to the individual. my .02
imo i would just pay a few more bills and go with some darts over a ported oe head. or just a stock 243
i went with the darts last time.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 04:03 PM
  #16  
02*C5's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 303
From: Az
Default

Originally Posted by NemeSS
imo i would just pay a few more bills and go with some darts over a ported oe head. or just a stock 243
i went with the darts last time.
Stock 243's do not flow in the 300's, while the valve train is lighter in them I went with the Ferrea hollow/sodium filled valves, bought then separate from the ones supplied by Lloyd. I think that my set up is better than stock 243's.
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 05:10 PM
  #17  
mtuggle86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Default

Ok Ive already bought all the parts for my cam swap including 7.400 hardened pushrods So Ill have to send my pushrods back and get 7.350 inch one instead Or would it just be smarter to go with the ls2 heads that have the standard valves?
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 05:18 PM
  #18  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by NemeSS
imo i would just pay a few more bills and go with some darts over a ported oe head. or just a stock 243
i went with the darts last time.
Agreed!

Originally Posted by 02*C5
Stock 243's do not flow in the 300's, while the valve train is lighter in them I went with the Ferrea hollow/sodium filled valves, bought then separate from the ones supplied by Lloyd. I think that my set up is better than stock 243's.
Do you have a link to there flow numbers?




And Yes everyone they do make a LS3 Cylinder Head For Small Bore LS1's Mast Motorsports sells it. 1200 each
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 05:24 PM
  #19  
mtuggle86's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Default

243s flow around 260cfm at .550 as cast From what Ive read
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2009 | 05:28 PM
  #20  
99Ls1fever's Avatar
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 36
From: Eaton, Colorado
Default

That is pretty dam good for a stock cylinder head!
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:48 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE