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Port heads or get bigger cam?

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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 07:37 PM
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Default Port heads or get bigger cam?

I was wondering which would give more horsepower and loose the least drivability. Porting the LS6 stock heads for around $5-600 or getting a bigger cam. Would go from the cam in sig to a 228/230 .573/.578 112 or 113 LSA (whichever would be better for a 6200 shiftpoint) custom grind or similar. BTW, I don't know how much a good port job would actually cost, Thanks.

Please read post #15, I didn't want to start a new thread.

Last edited by camz28arro; Oct 15, 2009 at 03:42 PM.
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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 07:43 PM
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Heads for sure in this case......
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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by SOMbitch
Heads for sure in this case......
I second that!
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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 10:13 PM
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For what you're wanting, a good port job will get you that.
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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 10:51 PM
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the heads are already off ... so do the heads a cam can be changed later without the heads removal ... maybe even a used one from a member or a sponsor in the classified ^_^
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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 10:55 PM
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that cam upgrade would knock of 1-2 tenths, heads i would hope would be a solid 2...not to mention drivability shouldnt really be sacrificed with a port job. better fuel mileage with head porting over the cam upgrade would most likely be the case...so more power, better drivability, fuel economy, and way less labor/headache.
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Old Oct 11, 2009 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by camz28arro
I was wondering which would give more horsepower and loose the least drivability. Porting the LS6 stock heads for around $5-600 or getting a bigger cam. Would go from the cam in sig to a 228/230 .573/.578 112 or 113 LSA (whichever would be better for a 6200 shiftpoint) custom grind or similar. BTW, I don't know how much a good port job would actually cost, Thanks.
I agree with everyone else, go with the ported head in this case. If I were you I would look at what TEA has to offer as far as Head porter is concerned.
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Old Oct 12, 2009 | 01:35 AM
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small port cylinder heads ftw with that small cam. Some afr 205's would do ya nicely.
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Old Oct 12, 2009 | 01:44 AM
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Port the heads.
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Old Oct 12, 2009 | 02:02 AM
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Heads
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Old Oct 12, 2009 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by NAAllTheWay
that cam upgrade would knock of 1-2 tenths, heads i would hope would be a solid 2...not to mention drivability shouldnt really be sacrificed with a port job. better fuel mileage with head porting over the cam upgrade would most likely be the case...so more power, better drivability, fuel economy, and way less labor/headache.
man i really hope that a GOOD port job is worth more than 2 tenths. i'm gonna be pretty pissed if i don't pick up more than that
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Old Oct 12, 2009 | 07:44 AM
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Thanks for all the replies!
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Old Oct 12, 2009 | 04:39 PM
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What kind of power would Patriot stage 1 heads make over the stocker 243's, I think the stock 243s are 260cfm at .500 lift and the patriots are 290-300. I would think about selling my brand new LS6 243s assembled in the classified section for about $650 if I should go with the Patriot heads.

Also with the 243s and the .040 gasket would my hardened comp 7.400 pushrods be fine. Thanks.
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by outkast6991
man i really hope that a GOOD port job is worth more than 2 tenths. i'm gonna be pretty pissed if i don't pick up more than that
always depends on your particular combination...but u gotta look at it like this, if you wanna drop two tenths, you need to pick up 20+....about every 10 horse is a tenth when your talkin ls1's with bolt ons...
also...when it comes to doing heads,...in most cases if you pick up 10 horse your only gonna get about 7ft pounds,....thats why i say 20+ bc the torque is not gonna be right there with hp gains.
if im not mistaken, hes already got 243 heads right? stock 243's vs. ported 243's.....i doubt your gonna pick up 30whp.....which is what you should need to drop 3 tenths....roughly
once you get past the bolt ons....every tenth u wanna drop your gonna have to earn, its not as easy once the bolt ons are done...or shall i refraze.....its not so cheap once you get passed the bolt ons.
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 03:05 PM
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Would Patriot CNC'd 243's be too much for a TR224? I'm about to sell my stock 243's and would like to know. I'll be bringing the engine up to 6200rpm if that would matter. Thanks.
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by camz28arro
Would Patriot CNC'd 243's be too much for a TR224? I'm about to sell my stock 243's and would like to know. I'll be bringing the engine up to 6200rpm if that would matter. Thanks.
in my opinion i would keep the stock 243's and have the correct guy do a nice VJ and some bowl work before i'd go the patriot route. less money spent for most of the gain(or more).
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by camz28arro
Would Patriot CNC'd 243's be too much for a TR224? I'm about to sell my stock 243's and would like to know. I'll be bringing the engine up to 6200rpm if that would matter. Thanks.
send your heads to TEA!!!
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 01:20 PM
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i have a 222 cam with ported patriots...i make 402 through an auto with a stall, just regular ls6 intake and what i consider a somewhat constrictive catback.....so no those heads arent too much for a 224...with that combination your car will run elevens with full bolt ons.
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