Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Clean, mill and Port 799's or replace?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 22, 2018 | 02:38 PM
  #1  
skongolf's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default Clean, mill and Port 799's or replace?

I have a set of 799 heads that I bought for $400 a while back and they guy said they had about 70,000 miles on them. He had cleaned them himself and said they worked great but had just replaced them with something different. I am getting ready to start working on my 2004? 5.3 which currently has 706 heads which I am replacing anyway. This will be my first time attempting a cam and head swap and just want to do it right the first time.
I am one of those people who wants to do things right the first time, does his research and tries to have everything bought and ready to go.

I am trying to decide on whether or not to take the heads to a local machine shop and get them checked out, cleaned, ported, and milled down to bump compression which will cost $375 to $450 or send them to TSP and have them do it where I know it will be done right but cost more.

Or the other option is to buy the 2.5 heads with stainless valves they carry for $1550 and sell my 799's.

The guys at TSP have been awesome at answering my questions and basically have me sold on the 224R cam they carry and have not been high pressure on selling me new heads.
The other factor is that the 799's I have do not have springs so I bought some Comp Cams 918 springs on here but still have to get the retainers ect and I plan on buying rockers with the trunion upgrades.
I always get good advice on here so just wanted to get some opinions. Thanks
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2018 | 02:48 PM
  #2  
ss.slp.ls1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
iTrader: (36)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,184
Likes: 28
From: Orange County, CA
Default

I would be hesitant to have a local shop clean, port, and mill them for that price. You get what you pay for. That being said, you should be able to find a place that will sell you ported and milled 243/799 heads that require a core exchange that is built into the price. That's what I did when I got my ported 243's from WCCH here in CA. Gave them a pair of untouched heads and walked out with my ported heads. I had them install springs as well. They sure were pretty and I know they are reputable and their heads make good power.
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2018 | 03:00 PM
  #3  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

I thought TSP had the best deal at $750, but it looks like Livernoise does it for about $500
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2018 | 08:01 PM
  #4  
wannafbody's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,603
Likes: 1,149
From: Pittsburgh
Default

That TSP $750 includes removing the valves and springs and reinstalling them.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 11:43 AM
  #5  
duke250's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
Default

the livernois website says $1000 for their LS cylinder head porting
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 12:03 PM
  #6  
skongolf's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by duke250
the livernois website says $1000 for their LS cylinder head porting
Can you post the link? I can't find any info on their website so I emailed them and have not heard back.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 12:42 PM
  #7  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

Originally Posted by duke250
the livernois website says $1000 for their LS cylinder head porting
About a week ago they posted on the forum here and said $500. Unless I read it wrong that's what I got out of it. Here is the link

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...der-heads.html
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 12:52 PM
  #8  
jaxcam02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 19
From: Jacksonville, Fl
Default

just my experience. Texas Speed was incredible, the heads looked amazing when I got them back. Everything about working with them was great. I have since had worked with Russell about some other products they offer and he has even given me advice when its a product I havent bought from them. I will update with a pic of my heads I sent and got back from them.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 01:38 PM
  #9  
jaxcam02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 19
From: Jacksonville, Fl
Default



Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 01:49 PM
  #10  
skongolf's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by jaxcam02


Did they rework yours or did you just buy theirs? What was the shipping to sent them there? I guess I am just trying to find out whether or not to have them rework mine or just buy theirs and sell what I have. Thanks for the input though.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 02:00 PM
  #11  
jaxcam02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 19
From: Jacksonville, Fl
Default

I sent mine to them. I want to say ups charge me like $50 to ship. They recommend to ship in two separate boxes so they don't smash into each other during transportation. They did everything. I bought new springs from them to and they installed everything for me. I didn't even want to have to deal with installing springs and seals.

The math I did including how much I paid for the 799s it was cheapest to send them out. The reputation helped me make my decision.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 02:11 PM
  #12  
skongolf's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by jaxcam02
I sent mine to them. I want to say ups charge me like $50 to ship. They recommend to ship in two separate boxes so they don't smash into each other during transportation. They did everything. I bought new springs from them to and they installed everything for me. I didn't even want to have to deal with installing springs and seals.

The math I did including how much I paid for the 799s it was cheapest to send them out. The reputation helped me make my decision.
Ok. That helps a lot. Did they replace your valves because I know they offer that.
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2018 | 03:12 PM
  #13  
jaxcam02's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 19
From: Jacksonville, Fl
Default

Originally Posted by skongolf
Ok. That helps a lot. Did they replace your valves because I know they offer that.
Mine were in good condition. I didn't need it but they cleaned them real good
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:11 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE