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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 12:03 PM
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Am happy with performance even with just my baby cam (224r) but... just picked up a Yank SS3600 and was thinking about adding a set of heads to the mix. My question is, with a small cam like mine will there be a noticable difference with better heads? Was thinking about the 5.3 heads from TSP https://www.texas-speed.com/p-4345-p...-outright.aspx or possibly the as-cast heads they sell https://www.texas-speed.com/p-4345-p...-outright.aspx . Question is, will the extra $400 make that big a difference?
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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by farmington
Am happy with performance even with just my baby cam (224r) but... just picked up a Yank SS3600 and was thinking about adding a set of heads to the mix. My question is, with a small cam like mine will there be a noticable difference with better heads? Was thinking about the 5.3 heads from TSP https://www.texas-speed.com/p-4345-p...-outright.aspx or possibly the as-cast heads they sell https://www.texas-speed.com/p-4345-p...-outright.aspx . Question is, will the extra $400 make that big a difference?
I think you'll notice a good improvement with better heads. In a Heads/cam package, the cam probably adds more power than the heads if done one at a time and measuring the impacts.

But, cams also determine where you make power, etc. Good heads make power on the entire RPM range. To me, the costs of gaskets and fluids to change the heads will run half the cost of the upgrade, so I'd pay the $400 and not leave anything on the table, but that's me. Say it's a difference of "only" 20 horsepower, that's $20/hp.
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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 12:54 PM
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its a difference of $1500 and $1900
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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 01:42 PM
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Yeah, so say the porting vs as-cast is 20-hp difference, that's $20/hp. realistically, probably more like 10 rwhp, but you'll feel it off idle as well as top end.
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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 03:56 PM
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Good heads will make more power everywhere even with a stock cam. John Lingenfelter said it best. A car with great heads and poor cam will be faster then a good cam with poor heads. The heads are where the power is made.

You could make 460+ whp with that 224r if you went with the best heads(arguably MMS) and a ported fast. The car would drive exceptional and make power everywhere. If you jumped up to a 227/231 you could make another 5-10whp and not lose much if any driveability. After that you start sacraficing driveability for peak power.

Point is, if you can afford the better heads then get the better heads!! Bang for the buck, the PRC 225's look solid with the hollow stem valve option. No budget, MMS 220's.
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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 08:39 PM
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I run the PRC 5.3 heads on my setup and they do great for the money. You're not far from Livernois...they have,some great priced heads as well
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Old Sep 23, 2015 | 04:15 AM
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Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
I run the PRC 5.3 heads on my setup and they do great for the money. You're not far from Livernois...they have,some great priced heads as well

Yup... everybody is sleeping on Livernois. I run there ls6 heads.
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