OP: There is a used, low mileage, set of PRC 227 heads in the classified section on here for $1,700 shipped. They are a great aftermarket casting that would suit you nicely.

 

I was very pleased with the quality of the workmanship when AI did my full CNC port job, springs, and camshaft; all of which cost around $1700.

 

Did you get larger valves for that price? or did they re-grind your old ones? Titanium retainers?

$1700 + you supplied the cores?

$1300 for the head work? (-$400 cam)

Thats basically what we are talking about here in terms of budgets. Add the $500 243s you provided, thats $1800 AND you didnt get new valves which just brought you to $2000 if you did.

I would sell my existing 243s and just buy the ready to go set. That would get you in the ballpark of $1,000 for CNC ported heads, larger SS valves, HD springs, titanium retainers AND ready to bolt on!!

 

I have to agree.

 

so bigger valves are critical? Maybe you should find a set of "202 fuelie" heads and adapt them.

Form what I people are focusing on price and features never bothering to actually consider consistently proven performance.

 

Are you saying larger valves don't inprove air flow?

 

well intake valves can be too big for certain bore sizes, and get shrouded, reducing flow

 

larger valves do flow better but honestly if you talk to most vendors who port heads they will tell you that they dont flow a significant amount more air then stock valves do plus they are heavier then stock valves and decrease your piston to valve clearance. Just something to think about since ss valves seem to be such a big deal to alot of people.

 

Sometimes a larger valve can shrowd the port causing it to flow less.

 

Did you get larger valves for that price? or did they re-grind your old ones? Titanium retainers?

No, they touched up my stock valves and reused all of the parts except for the valvesprings, which are PSI beehives, for the price given. My motor only had 45K on it, so all of the associated parts were fine.

$1700 + you supplied the cores?

Yes, I pulled the heads off my motor and sent them down for valvejob, decking, and port job

$1300 for the head work? (-$400 cam)

Around there for the head work, springs, and pushrods

Thats basically what we are talking about here in terms of budgets. Add the $500 243s you provided, thats $1800 AND you didnt get new valves which just brought you to $2000 if you did.

You are correct

I am not a big aftermarket guy, so I was very happy to send off my stock parts to be improved by professionals. The guys down there did nice machine work and answered my 10,000 questions while they were doing it. I am pleased, but this route is certainly not for everyone. In my opinion, the unshrouded stock valves will flow all I need to achieve my power goals, but if your goals are different this route may not be for you.

C

 

Advanced Induction is by far the best CNC option for stock heads IMO. I sent off a set of 243s to them. It was like $1295 with new springs assembled. I gained 55rwhp and 36lb/ft tq from them. I have a few threads on them and the dyno/track results as well.

 

thats a huge gain...i will probably send some 243's to them when i get ready to do h/c again or possibly go with livernois, both do good work

 

Bought my 243's for 350$.. did Advanced Inductions head cam package. Includes hardened pushrods springs 226 234 113lsa cam, full cnc ported intake and exhaust and bowl job, cnc valve job, new valve guides, new manley locks. And what I also got from them ls7 lifters, two exhaust valves Retainers. 2100$

You can get a budget set heads cam package from Texas speed for possibly more or less power. But the reason I chose my route is because AI work is consistent when it comes to power. The heads Perform on par with large brand heads.... And I got heads and cam for the price of trickflows..

 

You guys are sleeping on WCCH and Livernois..

 

Who cares? If you search you will find many proven dyno/track results......which is really what counts.

If you watch Ebay and have patience you can get a decent price on some 243/799's. I got mine for $350 shipped from a reputable seller that sells lots of 243/799's, just gotta catch the right time. Mine are off to AI for the premium 226 CNC package later this summer.

 

Dennis Wheet, Greg Good , Darin Morgan , Bret from landspeed. Those are some of the top cylinder head guys around. Pay for what you can afford. My 243's are still sporting stock runners

 

The only time valve sizing becomes an "issue" is that the size and placement interferes with the cyl walls which is the case with any LS1. LS2 and later adapter to a larger bore and you dont see many going backwards. What they are doing is changing valve angle and in some cases counter sinking the valves into the head to make it work.

When you take into consideration total flow from intake to head, almost all modified cyl heads out flow the intake where intake is a restriction but when doing this sort of work, if you ignore the valves (sizing and weight) you cant just have them modified to fit. I ran into that on my LT1 car. Had CNC work done to stock casting, stock valves. I wanted larger/lighter valves and Lloyd Elliot personally told me he would charge me exactly the same had they been not modified due to him redoing all the work so those heads were best to be sold and rebuy, if that is what I wanted to do. I decided to divest the LT1 motor and go LS1 but basically same concept.

Spend the money as best you can knowing you can divest and not lose too much money.

 

Paid $400 for my handport here, dyno results on my setup coming this week

 

AI or AFR. Only two companies I would let do any work to my heads.

 

All very good theory but those of us with open minds see theory get thrown out the window here in the real world pretty regularly.

IMO there is a little bit of art to cylinder head design that is not easily measured or explained other than to just admit sometimes something works better in the real world than it does in theory.