I screwed that up somehow. Anytime I read as cast I automatically think of trick flow.

The trick flow as cast are in the price range the OP is looking at. If it were my money i'd be all over the as cast 220's




Does anyone know how the TSP as cast valve angle and deck surface thickness compares to the Trick Flow?


Also, I like the idea of the hollow valves, getting weight off the valve train is always good

 

The TSP site should say what the angle and deck thickness is. I have read it but can't remember it now.

 

I went to the site and read on the as cast head, didn't see either mentioned.

 

Oops sorry, I thought it did. Might be mixed up w/ someone else. I bet a call to them would get your answers though.
Edit- I just went to the site. You are right of course. I was surprised that they don't flow much more than the Stage 2.5 ported stock heads.

 

I visited there yesterday, WOW! What a great bunch of folks!! Got me fixed up with what i needed and I got a full shop tour. I saw all the machining operations going on and looked a various head operations. their as cast heads are beautiful, don't know the specs but they go through several CNC operations. Got a set of 862's I'm fixing( Texas word) to take them for their magic. They have 7-8 guys manning phones, call them...

 

Yes the numbers are very close between tsp Stage 1 LS6 vs Stage 2.5 5.3 706/862 casting. And yes I like a smaller valves on a small bore. TSP does not offer Stage 1 on 5.3 castings .

 

That is because the Stage I uses stock valves, and the stock valves on early 5.3 castings are too small to complement the porting. I can understand that. On the 243/799 heads the stock intake is 2.00" making it far more workable, which is why Stage I is available on them.
To add to your comment on the flow #'s, the difference between Stages I & 2.5 on 243/799's is still minimal., ma.king Stage I a better deal for many

 

I believe that on the small bore that TSP should give the customer the option to run a small valve and it doesn't have to be stock . I'm not convinced bigger is better on a 3.78 bore.

 

I would think there is a good reason for it. TSP might have dyno'd it and saw no worthy result. If there was a good reason for offering what you say, they would be doing it.

 

I'd do the Brian Tooley worked TFS 220s. I think he has them on his site for $1550... then to work the chambers and hand blend them, add his spring kit, and assemble it's over $2k.

So if you can spend another couple of hundred, they are very good. And they can be used down the road... thicker deck for boost... can be opened up for bigger motors, etc.

 

So if im thinking right the upper end heads like Mamo, Brian Tooley AFR and Trick flow all are very close in price and will perform close to the same.


then it would be the TSP on the lower end by a tad on the price scale but still have close to the same flow rates?


damn what a pain in the *** to figure out but options are good right LOL


with doing springs it seems like most are all going to come within about $200 of $2k from what im seeing.
I do have a friend that has a pair of 243 heads I can buy for $300 as is but then its another 1200 to have TSP do the porting and another $250 to have good springs put in so that would put them up there in price and not a "new" set of heads.


with that thinking im leaning toward some of the higher end heads. Just figuring out which would better to go with is going to be tough

 

For comparison, Stage 1 243 heads flow similar to a $2500 set of Ford small block heads at about half the cost. The higher end heads have a couple advantages but you have to weight the advantages vs your budget. IMO, I wouldn't be spending big money on large valve heads unless I was running a 4+ inch bore.

 

I have the prc 5.3 heads 58cc on my 5.3 LM7 with a 222/226 cam and it runs great. I am sure there is some shrouding but it pulls from any rpm and in my 1992 pickup 5 speed 3:42 gears i can lug around at 1200 rpms in 5th with no bucking. Wot it pulls hard to 6800 rpms.

If i was the OP with the 2 choices he asked about i would go with the 225 heads. I just wish there was some dyno #'s for those 225 heads. I know the have better valve clearance then the stock castings.

To me the best bang for the buck is the trickflow 220 heads touched up by Tooley with powder metal guides so you can run the stock rockers.

 

Got in touch with the guys at Brian Tooley Racing and they gave me a quote on heads and cam as well as a Trunion upgrade gaskets and ARP studs.
not sure what kind of power it will make with the setup but heads alone were $1675 with Powder Metal guides and 60cc chamber for the Trick Flow fast as cast
and a stage 3 cam 231/242 617/592 112+2

 

Dang that's cheap on the heads. I'm guessing that is with no springs?

 

that was just heads yes. but they also quoted me a spring kit and cam as well

 

Luke, if you haven't moved forward yet, I have another option for your consideration. Pick up any old set of LS heads you can get inexpensively and send them in to be ported. After talking to a number of "recognizable name" head porting services, I Think all the castings end up with about the same flow numbers, and any size combustion chambers you want.
I picked up a set of "853" castings for near nothing and sent them off to Elliot porting. For $1000 I get flow of over 300 cfm on intake side. I am not sure how much more than that is beneficial for a stock LS6 intake manifold, but I was told it is not much. With the money I saved on heads, it paid for the headers. I have way too much money invested in this "beater" now. Every little bit saved makes me feel a little smarter.