Current mods below. I am running the stock bottom end with 42k miles on it. My goal was a strong DD. But the reality is I don't drive my car that much and it's basically a toy because I have 2 other vehicles. I am thinking about a few mods for the upcoming winter.

I don't have a ton of money to spend on the car, but am considering having my heads ported and going with a more aggressive cam. I may consider a FAST with matching TB. But for now....

Who would do the best job on my heads, and what would be the optimal cam specs to match for a weekend warrior setup? Or would I be better off selling my heads and buying something else?


Just looking for knowledgeable opinions.

 

are these mods going on the car in the sig....

so you're talking of porting the Darts?

honestly the cam you have is pretty good, a GOOD set of heads and a ported FAST would make more power then going crazy with a bigger cam.

AFR 205s or TFS 215s milled as much as possible....and a ported FAST could make a considerable amount more power than what you have now.

 

Yes, this would be for the car on my sig. Thanks for the opinion. I think my heads would flow as good as about anything out there with the right person porting them.

Anyone else?

 

thing is you may run the risk of pushing the 225cc runner even bigger.

something like the TFS heads will have a smaller runner and flow just as well...and have more PTV clearance due to the change in valve angle.

 

I agree with you, and ported darts are probably better suited for more cubes. That is why I'm asking questions. But at this time I am not willing to spend that kind of money on heads. As cast TFS heads are over $3k for a set, ported pushing $5K, correct? I will probably just leave it alone but always thinking about changing things up. I might just get a fast intake, though I think they are way over priced and not sure I would gain much.

 

www.advancedinduction.com

 

Granted those heads are better suited to a 4.0 bore they are probably THE BEST cathedral head when ported properly. If you can afford it go through Bret Bauer and get a T4P port job. The port was designed by the late Joe Mendelis who was one of the best head porters in the country. Belive it or not those heads have 340cfm potential.

 

Im very curiuos to how those 225s are with the stock cubes? I had those heads never installed them because i was told they were too big for stock cubes and so i sold them and am going a different route. What numbers did you make and did you lose alot on the bottom end??

 

um....last time i checked the "as cast" TFS heads were about $1800, and the cnc versions were $2400

both will flow better than your current heads probably.

thought i saw touched up TFS heads for about $3000 someplace.


the FAST is absolutely worth it. with stock heads i gained almost 20hp, dynoed before and after, same day, same dyno, tuned before and after.

and that was with a home port job with a dremel tool.

putting it on a h/c could yield more.

 

That is what I have always heard and one of the reasons I bought them, thinking I would get them ported if I went with more cubes later. I may look into it but not sure if they would be the best for a 346.

I have not had it on a dyno but I can tell you with my cam it pulls hard from about 3500. I don't think they are too big for stock cubes as cast. You can't really compare runner size among brands; if I were to buy AFR's for a 346 I would probably buy their 205's.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

I thought they were considerably more than that. Thanks for clearing it up. As for the FAST, you would have gained just as much with an LS6 intake most likely, at 1/3 the price. I think the FAST only becomes a benefit over the LS6 if you have more cubes or killer heads + a huge cam and 1 3/4" headers.

 

i would say since you have the heads you should use them. I would spend the money on the bottom end, like a stroker or atleast a forged 347, then go FI.

If you really want to change heads you could try to sell the darts, but i bet you make pretty good power already with you h/c setup. To gain et you could lose weight, that might be the cheapest way to go faster.

 

sorry to burst your bubble....but that gain WAS over the ls6 and ported TB!!!

and on stock heads....

thread with background, mods and graphs


and besides i got the FAST, TB and 42# injectors (freshly cleaned) for $1250 shipped.
after selling the LS6 i basically paid $1000 for my intake, tb and a $300 set of injectors...
WORTH IT!!!!

 

Your not "bursting" anyone's bubble. Results vary, and you sound more like you are trying to justify the $1k you spent to yourself. As long as you are happy, then great for you. I have seen threads where people actually LOST power by going from a LS6 to a FAST. Most cars running stock cubes will not gain much if at all is my belief. And my car is not a max effort car, and rarely sees the track. It makes decent power now. Even if I knew for sure I would gain 20 hp by switching to a FAST, I'm still not sure I would do it.

 

don't want to get in a pissing match....

but 20hp is hard to refute....dyno graphs showed gains from 3000rpm and up, both hp and torque.

i don't need to justify anything....the FAST was a great deal...and even at full price i would have been happy.

i kindda figured i'd get the FAST after heads, but the deal came up and it worked out as an easier upgrade for me to do myself.


and i was really excited to get the chance to do the dyno test on the setup....it was as close to apples-2-apples as i could get.


people complain about $1000-1200 for 20hp....but they spend $2500 on heads for 40-50hp and are perfectly satisfied.

 

I'm not disputing your results, rather saying not everyone is reporting the same. Results vary. There is no guarantee that I would gain anything with my particular setup.

 

i've never heard of a h/c car NOT picking up pwer with a FAST over the ls6....if for no other reason than the bigger TB.