02-ws6-6speed

I have a 2002 Trans Am WS6. It is a 6-speed with Kooks long tube headers, off road y-pipe, Borla Exhaust, SLP Lid, K&N Filter, LS6 intake, Comp Cam .644I .598E 231/234 @ 0.050, Comp Magnum 5/16 x 7.400 pushrods, LS2 Double Roller Timing Set, PRC Gold Spring Kit w/titanium retainers, Powerbond 25% UD Pulley, MSD Spark Plug Wires, NGK TR55 Plugs and a HP Dyno Tune by G-Force Motorsports. Not sure if anything else was done to the car before I bought it but G-Force said the throttle body was ported. Not sure what gear it has but I think it is a 3.73. What are the best heads I can buy for this set up? I have 410hp to rear wheels now but want 500hp. I also will buy a 102mm Fast Intake and might also get a big mouth throttle body if necessary. Any suggestions will help me a lot.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

If you are serious about the 500 rwhp, look at either Trick Flow 215s or AFR 215s.

02-ws6-6speed

Can you tell me why you suggested the 215s? Im new to this head/cam set up. G-Force suggested Patriot Heads. Are they worth the money?

Gunrock_T/A_0811

iTrader: (1)

trick flow/AFR are higher end heads....patriot are lower end heads. Do a search on Patriots, not many people like them and the Trick flows/AFR's are more proven imho

STEEPSS

iTrader: (30)

BOOOST. You'll have 4-5K wrapped up in a stock bottom end 500rwhp attempt before you know it.

02-ws6-6speed

Supercharger will be last step after i get the heads but that is a lot of money. I am doing this project in steps. I still want to know the difference between AFR215 heads and AFR210 or AFR230?

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

The Air Flow Research website gives a detailed explanation of those 3 heads, but I would suggest you contact AFR directly and discuss exactly what your goals are. They can best help you decide which of those will work for you.

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

....To elaborate on this a tad more Patriots are a budget ported factory
casting (which has it's limitations) AFR's are hands down the best aftermarket
casting utilizing the factory 15 degree valve angle, TrickFlows are 13 deg.
castings and MAST @ 11 deg....rolling over the valve angle makes for a small
combustion chamber(raises comp.) yet still unshrouding the valves. Also the
port floor approach to seat on these castings improves midlift flow numbers
while keeping the runner small in size (cc vol.) This improves port speed
keeping the air/fuel mix atomized which helps torque (twisting force)......
YOU pay for the power !!!

brianw401

iTrader: (4)

The Trick Flow & AFR 215's are great heads. But don't forget the PRC 215's. They are way under rated. I love the set I'm running on my Z06. I paid $2,299 for the set, they have .650" springs, & come milled to your spec's at no additional charge. Also, the power gains are right with the other two 215 sets.
The main difference between the AFR 210, 215, & 230 heads is the intake runner size. The larger the runner, the more torque you will sacrifice on the low end of the power curve. Most people feel that 230cc is too large for a stock cube engine unless it has a power adder. In most cases, the smaller port with the higher velocity will make more power than a larger port that flows a little more air. Just look up some of the sick power numbers that the old AFR 205 heads were producing.
The best person to ask about heads is Tony Mamo at AFR. He is a genius when it comes to these topics.

PGUFF

iTrader: (12)

I was wondering if someone would mention the PRC 215. They seem like an in between of the budget stock ported options and the high-end aftermarket castings.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

I am not sure how PRC 215s attained the "mid-price" status some folks attribute to them. PRC 215s, in fact, cost the same as their Air Flow Research and Trick Flow counterparts except when they are on sale. Even on sale, PRC 215s still cost 92% of the MRSP of AFR 215s and TFS 215s.

The real "mid-price" option in this group is the Trick Flow 220 As Cast, which are roughly $700 cheaper with competitive performance.

BADD SS

iTrader: (4)

You can make 243 heads perform just as good or better than any trick flow or afr if you are willing to spend the money.... Kaltech has done it and so has cartek. There is nothing wrong with gm heads. It's who does the work and how much money you spend that dictates the result. And afr's are a glorified 243 head anyway.

180ls1

iTrader: (4)

I suggest you do more research, adding boost to that combo is not a good setup honestly. Your installing a cam with a good amount of overlap and heads with a lot of compression which is not boost friendly really.

Colemann

So many opinions..WOW! I would suggest calling a few and knowing your budget limitations as well but understanding what it will take to reach your goals. Be sure to talk to a few different manuf. yourself and not just one.

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

I totally agree that the OP should talk to a variety of suppliers but, my suggestion to look at high-end hardware is based on the OP's stated goal of extracting 500 rwhp from an LS1. I think that goal necessitates quality components, but I could be wrong.

brianw401

iTrader: (4)

I agree with BAD SS. I have seen many dudes make sick power & go really fast with ported stock castings. I went with PRC 215 heads because Texas speed uses them on their world record holding, stock short block car, & their service is awesome.