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Porting LS1 heads vs. aftermarket..

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Old Apr 13, 2004 | 05:49 PM
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Default Porting LS1 heads vs. aftermarket..

How much can you port out stock LS1 (2000 T/A) heads? What are some of the advantages to going with aftermartket heads?

I'm tossing around the idea of a heads/cam setup and I'm basically trying to figure out the cost to performance ratio of porting the stock heads or going with an aftermarket pair. As for the cam I'd probably go with something in the high 22X range.

My goal would be to keep a streetable setup through a 6 spd and make about 410 rwhp or more if traction isn't too much of an issue beyond that.

Thanks.
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Old Apr 13, 2004 | 06:16 PM
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I just bought a pair of 5.3 heads and am having the heads fully ported and assembled for a total of 1700. That included all manley valves and dual springs, hardened seats, titanium retainers and keepers. the works. great price. flow numbers i will not know until they are flowed. i do know his last set made 60 rwhp though. pretty good. one thing to keep in mind is that should you have your own heads worked on your car will be down for the time it takes unless you get a second set of heads. my head guy has had my heads for 2 weeks now and i am looking at another week yet until they are completely ready. let me know if maybe you want me to talk to my head guy for ya. maybe i can help.
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Old Apr 13, 2004 | 09:16 PM
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id get some 5.3 heads with a 10.8:1 CR, 5 axis stage 2 CNC porting,
2.02/1.57 stainless valves, NEW viton valve seals, GOLD dual valve springs,
titainium retainers, for $1,295 with no core @ PATIOT PERFORMANCE,
or look at TEXAS SPEED's head and cam packages with PATRIOTS heads......
these heads, ANY cam!, hardend pushrods,
GM bolts, GM gaskets......for $1,795.00

if you have $1,700 to spend on heads id get some stage 2 LS6 heads! BIG HP
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Old Apr 14, 2004 | 06:17 AM
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Originally Posted by M6HuggerSS
id get some 5.3 heads with a 10.8:1 CR, 5 axis stage 2 CNC porting,
2.02/1.57 stainless valves, NEW viton valve seals, GOLD dual valve springs,
titainium retainers, for $1,295 with no core @ PATIOT PERFORMANCE,
or look at TEXAS SPEED's head and cam packages with PATRIOTS heads......
these heads, ANY cam!, hardend pushrods,
GM bolts, GM gaskets......for $1,795.00

if you have $1,700 to spend on heads id get some stage 2 LS6 heads! BIG HP
I saw that deal and it sounded real good. That does seem the way to go. I was just curious what/if people had been doing with ported stock heads, but I guess with that type of deal it doesn't make much sense to mess around with the stockers. Thanks guys.
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Old Apr 14, 2004 | 10:36 AM
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Until the AFR heads come out, there are no aftermarket heads available. All are ported stock castings.
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Old Apr 14, 2004 | 11:09 AM
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I have gone with:

used 2,500mile LS6 heads (complete) - $850
Manley oversized valves - $200
918 springs - $150
772 titanium retainers - $180
Home porting - $free
%-angle valve job and back cut valve - $350
and reused the 2,500mile valve spring seals

Total $1730 ...AND I have LS6 heads with room to grow ie. stgII porting
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Old Apr 14, 2004 | 08:21 PM
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thats awsome! do you have any pics of your home porting? post them!
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Old Apr 14, 2004 | 09:21 PM
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I did all my own work as for porting on a set of ls1 heads, bought the heads of -bay for $200 and comp cam Valve train kit for (springs 918, retainers)$300 including pushrods. Also purchased a set of manley valves 2.02, 1.60 for under $200 form race net. Now MTI is doing my valve job. after everything including the valve job a set of ls1 Ported heads comes out to be $950 with your own labor. So if your like me and want to save as much money as u can, do it yourself.
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