Midnight02

iTrader: (8)

It sounds like our goals were similar -- budget build for a rock solid street car that may spend a couple days a year at the track/road course.

I went with the PRC 5.3 Stage 2.5 heads and have been quite pleased. Is there more power out there on the table, absolutely. Are the PRC's the best out there on a budget -- even that's widely debateable.

That being said, I spent $1K on heads (to compliment the cam/intake/exhaust). Instead of investing $2,500 into the heads/rockers, I used the next $1,500 on a solid N2O setup.

Sure, there's a little N/A power left on the table, but there's an extra 100+ hp at the flip of a switch when I need it.

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

Yep right on. Do you have any dyno #s?

wildcamaro

iTrader: (15)

I don't agree on the roller rocker comment...I would rather have the stock rockers with reunion upgrade...to me the roller rockers aren't worth the money when it comes to HP/$...most rocker arm failures I see on this forum are aftermarket roller rockers, rarely do you see stock ones failing (which I'm sure has happened though)...not knocking roller rockers I just prefer the reliability of the stock GM ones, trunnions upgrade makes them even better....anyway let us know what you get man!

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

Ok guys. Just bought some used 04 ls6 243s with sodium filled valves. Ill be sending them to AI for a full cnc and one of their cam grinds
1nasty86 thanks for your help!

Rise of the Phoenix

iTrader: (27)

Keep us updated when you get numbers.

Rickenbackerman

iTrader: (1)

But what about for aftermarket heads with bronze guides? Stock rockers will scrub across the valve tip and increase the rate at which the guides wear. I know damn sure my AFR's will be wearing some yella terra's.

sepsis

iTrader: (7)

I wouldn't trust Yella Terras as paper weights. I seen 2 failures in less than 2 weeks on 2 different builds just on this forum. Junk imo.

1nasty86

iTrader: (63)

Or get powder metal valve guides like I did... Problem solved

sepsis

iTrader: (7)

Or you can make it so the geometry is proper and not settle.

Rickenbackerman

iTrader: (1)

Impossible. A rocker arm is a lever, there is always going to be tip scrub.

sepsis

iTrader: (7)

True, but you can minimize the valve deflection with a roller tip.....right?

Rickenbackerman

iTrader: (1)

That is precisely the point of the roller tip... what's your point?

sepsis

iTrader: (7)

My point has escaped you?

My point was that roller tip rockers are better than the stock ones. They keep the valve from deflecting as much as it does on the stockers by rolling across the top instead of rubbing.

It's like you only read 1 of my posts and you commented on it out of context or something.

Rickenbackerman

iTrader: (1)

I get it now, you weren't being clear. I thought you were a stock rocker fan, and saying in post #29 that you could shim or do something else with them so they don't scrub. That wasn't what you were saying, so I don't know what you were saying.

Saying that roller tip rockers are better than stock ones is like saying water is wet. I think anybody who's reading this thread and contemplating a set of performance heads already knows that.

mike c.

iTrader: (1)

Yes you will. Dyno numbers mean what?? Nothing. I have had my last set of budget heads make close to the same power as my trickflow. Only gained a mear 10hp on the peak. I gained some under the curve and some tq as well. At the track i gained 3 tenths and my 60 foot was only a 1.55 when my best with the old heads was a 1.44. If my slicks were not worn,i could of gained 4 tenths just from better heads. Also,my old heads flowed more then the trickflow. so again,even flow numbers don't mean everything. I believe in you get what you pay for. people who have budget heads will disagree with my poast wanting to believe their heads are just as good as AFR or TRICKFLOW. I believe this to be wrong having also swapped a set of top sponsor's heads and adding AFR heads. again,with a great gain... goodluck to ya.

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

A sponsors 5.3 stage II's to TFS 220's only change on the 346 a couple years ago....

Edit: Good choice on the AI's OP. djfury05 has a set on a stock bottom car and it is a BEAST. I saw it run at Coastal Plains and it was trapping 122-123 IIRC no weight reduction. Search him in the dyno section and you will see what they are capable of....

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

I would be thrilled with that increase in torque right there

Oh trust me I know probably just about every thread on this site that shows AIs head work. Thats how I made my choice.
I decided to do a quick search for 243 and came across what must have been fate. A set of ls6 sodium filled valve heads...SOLD!

Now which cam to go with hmmmm

1nasty86

iTrader: (63)

226/230 or 230/234 eps cam would do good... And the valvetrain would be quieter than most other cams... Seen a 222/226 eps cam put down 430 hp on a ls1

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

Yea there ya go I think I may go with this one...•Ai 226° / 234° 113° LSA .600"/.600" Hydraulic Roller Camshaft

Couple questions...
Will my 241 valve covers bolt on these 243 ls6 zo6 heads?
Also, whats the deal with sodium filled valves being longer? Am I going to need different sized pushrods or somethig?

sepsis

iTrader: (7)

Your question was already in the thread you started.

Yes, You will need to measure the push rod length with a push rod length checker.