Dart Pro Heads
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From: Jefferson City, MO
Dart Pro Heads Anyone know how the Dart Pro LS1 heads are? Are they pretty good right out of the box, compaired to my stock LS1 heads? Also, what would be a good size cam to run with them. I have all the supporting mods to go with it; long tubes, duals, etc.
i have heard they need a good ammount of hand porting to get them to flow, i would find a set of 3799's for 300-400 and buy those and get a custom cam, but i have never seen as cast dart heads either
From the research I've done, they are slightly better then stock ls1 or ls6 (243/799) castings out of the box, but fall way short of other aftermarket castings "out of the box" and ported 243/799's will make more power. After some porting from those that know these heads, they are supposed to be pretty good. But, by then you are spending the same amount as if you went with ETP, PRC, TFS, AFR, etc aftermarket castings.
There were also oil consumption issues with earlier sets of these heads....mainly the ones TSP used to sell after they ported them and worked them over. There was debate on whether it was bad valve guide clearances from Dart, or the work done by TSP that caused the issue. Either way, TSP doesn't sell 'em anymore so that should say something.
Can you make power with these heads? Yes, after they get some work. Is it worth it over a different set of aftermarket casting heads? Probably not. Do some more research, and check out the dyno section and the 1/4 mile section to see how people with Dart heads are doing.
There were also oil consumption issues with earlier sets of these heads....mainly the ones TSP used to sell after they ported them and worked them over. There was debate on whether it was bad valve guide clearances from Dart, or the work done by TSP that caused the issue. Either way, TSP doesn't sell 'em anymore so that should say something.
Can you make power with these heads? Yes, after they get some work. Is it worth it over a different set of aftermarket casting heads? Probably not. Do some more research, and check out the dyno section and the 1/4 mile section to see how people with Dart heads are doing.
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TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (27)
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Jefferson City, MO
Thanks for that info, great stuff. The reason I was asking is because there is a set for sale on here for $550.00. I'd rather spend a little more and get something that's not going to need a lot of work to get them where I want. You seem to know a lot about heads, so I'll ask you this. What head would you recommend to get me close to 450 rwhp? Keep in mind that I don't want to spend an arm and a leg for heads. Thanks a bunch.
From the research I've done, they are slightly better then stock ls1 or ls6 (243/799) castings out of the box, but fall way short of other aftermarket castings "out of the box" and ported 243/799's will make more power. After some porting from those that know these heads, they are supposed to be pretty good. But, by then you are spending the same amount as if you went with ETP, PRC, TFS, AFR, etc aftermarket castings.
There were also oil consumption issues with earlier sets of these heads....mainly the ones TSP used to sell after they ported them and worked them over. There was debate on whether it was bad valve guide clearances from Dart, or the work done by TSP that caused the issue. Either way, TSP doesn't sell 'em anymore so that should say something.
Can you make power with these heads? Yes, after they get some work. Is it worth it over a different set of aftermarket casting heads? Probably not. Do some more research, and check out the dyno section and the 1/4 mile section to see how people with Dart heads are doing.
There were also oil consumption issues with earlier sets of these heads....mainly the ones TSP used to sell after they ported them and worked them over. There was debate on whether it was bad valve guide clearances from Dart, or the work done by TSP that caused the issue. Either way, TSP doesn't sell 'em anymore so that should say something.
Can you make power with these heads? Yes, after they get some work. Is it worth it over a different set of aftermarket casting heads? Probably not. Do some more research, and check out the dyno section and the 1/4 mile section to see how people with Dart heads are doing.
You're either gonna spend an arm and a leg on heads (like $2,000+) or you're unlikely to reach your mark. You could go the route of flycutting, large cam, cheaper heads, and higher compression and you MIGHT get there. But after you see how much money you have wrapped up in modding these cars you'll wish you didn't cheap out on heads. And don't just chase a number, make a well running, drivable setup.
So I say if you're interested in getting it together quickly and cheap, go for 243/799's. Then down the road you can sell them for about what you paid and get good aftermarket castings or you could send them to TEA or someone reputable.
The only things I know about heads are what I've read through here and other sites. I'm no professional by any means, and I haven't even put a set of heads on an LS1 (just other vehicles). A cheap heads/cam combo is in my future so I've been researching a long time. That said, from what I've seen to make a guaranteed 450whp, a set of heads like the PRC, TFS, AFR, ETP, etc which are in the $2000+ range. Yes, some have made 450whp+ with ls6 castings but they are few and far between. And to achieve that with the ls6 heads will need really good work done to them, a healthy sized cam, and probably flycutting to be able to run a high enough compression with that large cam.
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The only things I know about heads are what I've read through here and other sites. I'm no professional by any means, and I haven't even put a set of heads on an LS1 (just other vehicles). A cheap heads/cam combo is in my future so I've been researching a long time. That said, from what I've seen to make a guaranteed 450whp, a set of heads like the PRC, TFS, AFR, ETP, etc which are in the $2000+ range. Yes, some have made 450whp+ with ls6 castings but they are few and far between. And to achieve that with the ls6 heads will need really good work done to them, a healthy sized cam, and probably flycutting to be able to run a high enough compression with that large cam.
And that was with A big heavy Ford Nine rear 35 spline axles non shot gun drilled And a 3.5 Thick walled drive shaft not light at all with my m6. Its not hard to 450 and stock ls6 heads is cake. And my car has the track times to back it. So not True.... I am a true Cam only setup With a Done STOCK LS6 LONG BLOCK. Heads have never been off the block. And I put down 455rwhp And 400+ rwtq. And that was with A big heavy Ford Nine rear 35 spline axles non shot gun drilled And a 3.5 Thick walled drive shaft not light at all with my m6. Its not hard to 450 and stock ls6 heads is cake. And my car has the track times to back it.
And that was with A big heavy Ford Nine rear 35 spline axles non shot gun drilled And a 3.5 Thick walled drive shaft not light at all with my m6. Its not hard to 450 and stock ls6 heads is cake. And my car has the track times to back it. I am Saying anyone how takes the time out to put a well planed motor combo. Will end up with good numbers. and good track times. There are many people on here with Stock LS6 heads making well over 420+ with easy mild 224 cam's and no work to the heads. Its all in the setup.
This is my point though....this is NOT the norm. You really think a handful of people on ls1tech are the ONLY ones throwing ls6 heads on their cars? For every dyno of a car with ls6 heads making 450whp, there are 10 dynos that are NEVER posted making a lot less power because the owner is not even on ls1tech, or doesn't want to put up the "low" numbers. I'm not saying the power CAN'T be made, just that it is not the norm and the OP will probably not see it.
This is my point though....this is NOT the norm. You really think a handful of people on ls1tech are the ONLY ones throwing ls6 heads on their cars? For every dyno of a car with ls6 heads making 450whp, there are 10 dynos that are NEVER posted making a lot less power because the owner is not even on ls1tech, or doesn't want to put up the "low" numbers. I'm not saying the power CAN'T be made, just that it is not the norm and the OP will probably not see it.
Are the 205's or 225's? If they are 225's, you might consider putting them on now and pulling them later for further work when funds permit. That is if they don't have any issues.
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From: Texas
The Dart heads are actually not that bad and can make pretty decent power. Get a valve job done by someone who knows what it needs and some blending in the throat and they would be some killer heads.