It's that time to finally purchase/send for porting/and install some heads.
Im looking to buy them off the classifieds or lastly ebay if their are none available here. What exactly should I be looking for here? Should I get them bare? should I be looking for them with a spring package? Theirs really no difference between 243s/799s correct?
I know they just need to compliment my cam, and I'm pretty sure I'll be using TEA for the porting.
Simplistic question but it doesn't hurt to double check my options. THANKS!!

 

The difference between the two is that the 799's were sand cast (little rougher finish).

 

If you can find 243s with the hollow stem valves you could run a cam with the XE-R lobes or other fast-ramp lobes and have longer valve spring life.
Otherwise, your looking for bare heads that have minimal valve guide wear. TEA charges $4.00 per guide to change them. Your looking for heads that have not been milled or had a valve job. A valve job typically sinks the valves .010 to .015 into the head. This cuts compression a bit and requires you to shim the valve springs to get correct installed height. I got my bare 243s from a Ebay seller for $315.00 ($30 S&H)

 

I found some on here, I tracked down the previous owner, got as many pictures as I could, looked at his feedback (PO's as well), and said a prayer. Luckily mine look to be in good shape, a little dirty, but I'll have them cleaned and decked and CC'd before they go on my car to ensure they're good.

 

Look for broken exhaust manifold bolts. They can be a PITA to remove.

 

So just some plain 243s will subsides then. I just see some for $500 and have come accross a few for $375.....didn"t know if their was a catch to why theirs such a big price differential gap there.

 

the ones that are 500 in the classifieds now are true ls6 heads. Normally they go for 400ish if they are just normal 243s or 799s. the ls6 243s are the same castings came with lightweight sodium and hollow valves and only came on z06's and cts v's so they are much more rare than a standard 243 head. The valves carry the valvetrain longer and keep it more stable with a cam.

if you can score those in the classifieds now i'd go for it. its worth the 100 extra bucks. if not you could always post a wanted ad on corvette forum, sometimes people have take offs from their z06's

 

Gotcha thanks...those would probably be my best bet with the cam I have.

 

Good advice from this new member ! Welcome to LS1tech !