Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

best head on a budget.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 23, 2010 | 10:42 PM
  #1  
Raycrfr6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default best head on a budget.

What is the best bang for the buck head and cam combo for a 99 ls1 with a vortech v9 sq. Need a little more oomph on my budget. Is some used ls6 on the classified ads worth it? Or some patriot or prc,Gmpp LS6,?
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2010 | 10:43 PM
  #2  
Raycrfr6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

And who sells them, + prices thank you
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 02:07 AM
  #3  
Nitroused383's Avatar
9 Second Club
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 6
From: Washington
Default

Best bang for the buck are used 243's for around $400. Solid 15+ rwhp gain and even more gains with milling / valve job.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 03:09 AM
  #4  
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Default

Send your stock heads to AI for porting and a good VJ.
SC setups are not as sensitive to heads as an NA setup, but a little extra flow and a good VJ can't hurt at all. Are you cammed?
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 03:28 AM
  #5  
Daryn's Avatar
Formerly darynC-10/23/10
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 0
From: gonzales louisiana
Default

darts are a great head at abotu 1600 assembled
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 09:59 AM
  #6  
jt76's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 4
From: Buffalo NY
Default

Texas Speed 2.5 5.3 heads
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 10:02 AM
  #7  
bret97gsx's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Greensboro, NC
Default

a cross-dressing hooker
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 10:45 AM
  #8  
bmf5150's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,679
Likes: 0
Default

I say Texas speed,can't beat there stage 2 243 heads for the money!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-4

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-8

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 10:50 AM
  #9  
thislswon's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 660
Likes: 4
From: Floyd Knobs, Indiana
Default

I agree with JT, i bought the heads new from them last for right at 900$ I think. My combo is very mild but makes very good power!
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 11:27 AM
  #10  
nghisus's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
Default

Originally Posted by thislswon
I agree with JT, i bought the heads new from them last for right at 900$ I think. My combo is very mild but makes very good power!
Are those the 799 castings from the L33? If so, hell of a deal. Pretty much a 243 without the "LS6" tax.

Last edited by nghisus; Dec 24, 2010 at 11:38 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 24, 2010 | 12:57 PM
  #11  
Lt1Porsche's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 795
Likes: 2
From: Midlothian, Virginia
Default

Id say the texas-speed PRC Stage 1.0 LS6 CNC Ported Heads. Flow close to the same as the Precision Race Components LS6 stage but $400+ cheaper. At a pinch over $1K its not a bad choice.
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2010 | 05:30 PM
  #12  
TXZ28LS1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,163
Likes: 3
From: Classified
Default

tough to beat TSP PRC heads for budget. But i also like TEA heads pricing also.
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2010 | 06:23 PM
  #13  
Intercooler2's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 2
From: North East, MD
Default

No love for Patriots LOL
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2010 | 06:29 PM
  #14  
AAK z28's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Macomb, Michigan
Default

Any 243s are a gain over stock. I prefer Tsp Prc's
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2010 | 12:09 PM
  #15  
LS1-450's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 9
Default

If it were me on a budget, I'd just get thicker head gaskets to decrease CR, upgrade the springs in the heads & then get a blower cam.
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2010 | 02:46 AM
  #16  
slap(A)hoe's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Default

i like my patriots i have had them reported by a friend of mine that used to work in the head shop at DEI and they work very well i am very well pleased with them
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2010 | 04:16 AM
  #17  
Super Speed's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
From: 'Merica
Default

I hear they are pretty cheap in Mexico!
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2010 | 04:33 AM
  #18  
Squirts11's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 897
Likes: 4
From: OKC, OK
Default

Originally Posted by Nitroused383
Best bang for the buck are used 243's for around $400. Solid 15+ rwhp gain and even more gains with milling / valve job.
Yep. Pretty much what I did. Milled/vj'd and touched up 243's. Made decent numbers for the money.
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2010 | 10:35 AM
  #19  
COPO9560's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 1
Default

Lots of FI guys like 317 heads. Ports flow similar to LS6 but with a larger combustion chamber. Lower CR allows higher boost and more power. TSP 5.3 heads would raise your compression - not really ideal for boosted application.
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2010 | 11:53 AM
  #20  
Sales2@Texas-speed's Avatar
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,053
Likes: 7
From: Texas!
Default

Thanks for the referrals, guys! We do have a nice sale going on for the PRC heads right now through Monday morning, January 3rd! Let us know if we can help with your combo!
__________________


Largest Stocking Distributor of LS-x Engines / CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!

COMP - FAST - PACESETTER - DIAMOND RACING - EAGLE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - CALLIES - COMETIC GASKETS
RAM CLUTCHES - MOSER ENGINEERING - KOOK'S HEADERS - ARP - GM BOLTS AND GASKETS - MSD - NGK
POWERBOND - ASP - AND MORE!
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:01 PM.

story-0
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-4
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-5
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-6
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-9
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE