98z28darkhell

im looking to do a head uprgrade on my 98 ls1. what heads are better in stock form. the ls6/ls2 heads or the 5.3 vortec truck heads. and is there any difference in the cam size they can hold. im looking to run like a 600-610 lift cam.

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

in stock form the ls6/ls2 243 head is better.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

I dunno what 5.3 casting numbers you are looking at but the LS6 head is a 243 or a 799. I bought some 799s off a 5.3. However, that does not make them 5.3 heads. In stock form, the LS6 243/799 is king of cathedral port. Vette 243s heads had sodium valves, all others did not.

98z28darkhell

what about in ported form? and what lift cam will they be able 2 hold with stock bottom end.

mrx8200

iTrader: (1)

Is there any way to tell if a 243 head has the lighter LS6 valves visually?

180ls1

iTrader: (4)

too many variables, if you could i could go with the ls6 heads in most cases.

caseypryan

iTrader: (10)

Max lift doesn't have anything to do with PTV clearance.

Also, the sodium filled valves have a small dark dot in the center of the valve

Jonnie Bravo

iTrader: (3)

The 243's in stock form are better then the stock 5.3's but worked over 5.3 are very capeable of making awesome power.

kinglt-1

iTrader: (26)

in ported form they are very close... the 243 still flows slightly better. Most go with 5.3's in a budget situation.

dwfronk

I am running some stock 5.3 (862 casting #) on a stock 6.0 (LQ4) block in my 01 camaro. In an 1/8th i usually run low 8's. and on the street usually pull a car or a little better on stock ls1 cars.

BIG_MIKE2005

iTrader: (116)

I love my little cheapo 5.3 heads. With a little love from Bo White they flowed above stock 243's and are milled so I get a compression bump. They were cheaper to get worked & add springs to than buying a set of 243's & springs at the time. Some people charge more for stock 243's than they are worth with all the other options on the table now days.

slt200mph

iTrader: (42)

The 5.3 TEA stage 1.5 heads are a well kept secret in the LS world...they flow as well as the $2500 heads like AFR and Trick Flow for $1000 less...they have smaller runners which keeps air velocity up for good throttle responce and if you mill them down to a 59 CC chamber and run a .040 head gasket you will have a tight quench and a compression ratio of 11.4-1 ... they will make great power per dollar spent.