Good deal on 243's?
 

Found some 243's with titanium valves for $300. No rockers. Seems like a good deal. Valves say Del West. What are things that I need to look for when I look at these? Here's a photo that the guy texted me. He bought these used and ended up not using them.

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Well, I paid less for pristine complete LS2 heads
but this was quite a few years back now. Not sure
whether titanium valves gain you anything, sure
would not have on my moderate build. Also not
sure 243s are the best you can do, present-day.
They were the best OE head commonly available
at one time, but depending on the plan maybe a
newer casting has some advantage (I don't keep
up).

The heads off my car have been in the garage for 3 years and have 140k miles on them. They look better than that.

They definitely need to be hot tanked and inspected. That's more cash into them. If everything checks out and with a new valvetrain, they'd work well. However, porting them is still going to be the best bet. Don't know if the budget allows for another $1k for porting plus whatever the clean them up... at that point, you're only a few hundred off TFS 220s from Brian Tooley or Mamo MMS223s.

Have those heads been underwater? Ok price otherwise if untouched. I seem to recall titanium valves beat up the valve seats although there is the lighter than OEM benefit. Then there is the longevity aspect. I looked at a set and they were for racing not street engine use. Again because of the valve seat pounding.

Looks like yo will spend the difference in shop work to clean them up. So ok price but you know not a steal.

As said above, those heads have seen better days. Judging by the intake and exhaust ports, those have been either in the rain or wet for a good amount of time. The cost to revitalize these heads will put you near $1000, which is a great start towards some Mamo heads or equivalent.

I would run far far away and find another deal. Those look horrible and I wouldn't be surprised if they were pitted, which means the gaskets won't seal, the ports may be in bad shape too.

You should be able to find a nice set for 300-500

I bought a set for $200 almost 10 years ago straight off a Z06 and even came with the cam. I sold them for $350. Just keep looking. Wasn't a buddy deal, just a craigslist find.

Ok, I got some clarification from the seller and the valves are $300 and bare heads are $150.

I'll look into some ready to go heads like you guys suggested.

I don't know...I think I'd take a chance on them at a buck fifty...probably pass on the valves. (I'm a cheap ass though)

Ok, let's assume I get the bare 243's for $150. What would I have to spend to get them complete and ported? I could use the parts off my 853's. So, what would it cost to have the 243's cleaned, ported, decked, new valve guides, springs and push rods. I haven't added that up but the $1200 TSP 1.0 LS6 heads are looking pretty sweet.

If your gunna spend $1200 on heads you should step up to the prc225 for $1600

Those things look like they were pulled off this GTO:

Attachment 593806

They might clean up, they might not. If they don't and can't be used as a core for porting, then you'll be spending money on different heads plus the $150 already sunk into those things.

I don't know...your going to have pushrods and springs either way...

After I checked into the TSP's, they are a killer deal... especially if you can't do any of the work yourself...

I myself would probably pick up the $150 243's, bead blast them, grind the valves and seats myself, (I have lots of stock valves laying around.) Have my buddy at his machine shop deck them, put a set of used dual springs and retainers I have laying around...run them on one of my 6.0 truck engine builds, or...throw them out there for sale...and use the money to put towards a set TSP's...;)

EDIT: After I go back and look at these, I'd try and beat him down to $50-$75 bucks for the pair. If he wants $150 for those beaters, and that's his first offer... I'll bet he will come WAY down

Those look very rough. Like they have been in the elements for a while. But $150 for bare 243s is still a pretty good deal. You won't find 243s cheaper.

I plan to look at these heads this evening. I hope to get them for $100 or less. I'll take a close look for cracks and pitting. I'm a machinist(not automotive) and we have a glass bead cabinet at work.

Since these are bare heads, what is a good place purchase valves, springs, guides, etc on a budget?

Texas speed or scoggins dickey come to mind first but really any vendor on the far right of your screen, site sponsors ---------->>>>>

I ended up passing on these heads. I never went and looked at them so I never got a close up look.

I tried contacting him to buy them and have them shipped directly to ai inductions. As soon as he found out i was not an american he refused to sell me them.
What a fucking douchebag. I work hard for my money. Apparantly he doesnt.

Sounds likes he's been burned by a scammer at some point. I don't know about Denmark but here in the U.S. when we try to sell something online (especially if we list it on Craigslist) we almost always have an overseas buyer send an offer trying to scam us.

Most Americans don't wanna ship overseas, it's not that we hate Europe it's that were afraid of getting scammed. He's just covering his ass, not saying you don't work hard for your money or anything.

The dude that turned him down wasn't even going to send them over seas, he was going to send them to AI. But still, it sounds really foreign (pun intended, had to) to do all of that and probably scared him.