What heads for drivability?
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Staging Lane
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From: Concord/Clayton, CA
What heads for drivability? I have a 383 with full bolt ons and Texas Speed & Performance Torquer Camshaft: 232/234, .595, with stock ported heads right now. I know my heads are holding me back. I want a good set of heads that will make good power with out loosing low end. What would the difference be in low end between say a set of 2.5 ls6 or 5.3 heads be to a set of PRC, AFR, or TFR 215 heads? and what top end power potential do you think your suggested set up would make. o and compression would be 11.3-11.5:1
really depends on how much you wanna spend. PRC, AFR, and TFS are some higher $ heads, but you can get them milled down to keep compression up and not lose your low end. i know the 5.3's are a popular head now, since they are easy to gain compression with. however, im pretty sure overall, any worked LS6 heads outflow the 5.3's and can make compression easy, as long as its done by a good porter.
money is really the deciding factor, but make sure you get something that will match well with your cam & the rest of your setup.
money is really the deciding factor, but make sure you get something that will match well with your cam & the rest of your setup.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Concord/Clayton, CA
I wont need to mill the heads much with my pistons a 62cc head is 11.3:1 compression. what I am wondering is what I should be saving for if I keep my cam is it going to be worth the extra money for the after market castings, or will I be just as well off with a set of 2.5 5.3s or ls6 heads? I think if I went after market I would have to get at least a 215 head. Its not the money Im concerned with its bag for the buck in the drivability range with out having pathetic hp and torque. If the TFS heads will only gain me 5HP@ 2,800 rpm then they are not worth it. what I don't want is a car that runs like it has a big turbo, gutless then insane. I want smooth progressive power across the board. This car will see lots of road trips and some track time for fun, but other than that it will be in the garage. I hope to have HP and TQ in the mid 400's. Also a little off subject but what would stock ls1 head ported be worth I have 2 sets Im thinking about selling, but am using one of the sets and a spare block to make a sheet metal intake for a 02 Z06 right now.
id agree with this. since it sounds like you arent trying to make ultimate power and want to cruise alot of road trips, a real nice set of ported LS6 heads sound just fine. id go with something like the stage 3 LS6 heads from TSP, not too expensive, but a really good port job so they flow at maximum.
With the camshaft you have, either the ported LS6's and or the PRC 215 will have nice power under the curve without feeling laggy like a big turbo (the powerband is dictated by the VE's of the camshaft more-so than the heads, contrary to what many believe). The 215's will typically be worth about 15rwhp more over the Stage 2.5 LS6's, and about 10ftlbs. If it's in the budget, the 215's are a great head with more room to grow into them down the road!
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 369
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From: Canton, GA
I like my AFR's I make some really nice torgue. I'm not sure what kinda of torque you will make with that cam though. The PRC and the TFS or some good heads as well, I don't have any experiance with them though.
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Staging Lane
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From: Concord/Clayton, CA
Does anyone have a dyno chart of LS6 heads with a similar cam for me to look at I know I have a 383 so that should give me more low end than a stock short block but it would give me an idea.
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do a search in the dyno section. I'm sure someone has a 383 with PRC heads both the LS6 and the 215's. Personally I would do the 215's if budget isnt a issue because you'll gain the power and not lose torque. You could probably also do alot more aggressive cam with that setup and still make major torque.
I bet you could get 250 for it maybe only 200 since there is a torquer V3. But I like the torquer cams because there more than the daily driver 224's and 228's but less then the monsters like the MS4's and Trex's.
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
You should be able to hit 450 rwhp at least with a good set of heads. My new engine should be close to 425 and I have CNC ported 241s and a Streetsweeper 228/232 going in. You're 37 cubic inches up on me as well, so that would make up for the difference. If it were me, I'd go with a set of ported LS6 heads and set it up to have about 11.1:1 compression so you have snappy throttle response and good low end.
reply https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ng-thread.html
The link above will give you a ton of good information concerning this topic. Even though it does focus on the AFR series, it applies to all brands of heads. For drivability, I would go with a heads with a runner size of 205-215. The air entering the heads with runners of that size will have much more velocity compared to a runner of 225+. That being said; throttle response, low end power, and fuel economy will be better compared to a bigger runner size. I noticed you wanted your CR around 11.5. Your torque numbers will be increased with such a high compression ratio. I'm not really sure what the cut off would be until you had to start using race gas. Personally, I would keep it around 11:1 max. 59cc or 57cc milled heads would be what you are looking for. Heads are a vital piece of an engine build, I wouldn't skimp on them. Hope this helps.
The link above will give you a ton of good information concerning this topic. Even though it does focus on the AFR series, it applies to all brands of heads. For drivability, I would go with a heads with a runner size of 205-215. The air entering the heads with runners of that size will have much more velocity compared to a runner of 225+. That being said; throttle response, low end power, and fuel economy will be better compared to a bigger runner size. I noticed you wanted your CR around 11.5. Your torque numbers will be increased with such a high compression ratio. I'm not really sure what the cut off would be until you had to start using race gas. Personally, I would keep it around 11:1 max. 59cc or 57cc milled heads would be what you are looking for. Heads are a vital piece of an engine build, I wouldn't skimp on them. Hope this helps.
