I am looking at rebuilding my 2000 LQ4, it has Iron Heads and when i do the rebuild i would like to go to a 243 or 241 aluminum head. Has anyone bought tested remanufactured Heads. I have found 243 heads from a company called EngineTech that are about $699 for a loaded set, also there are another companies, FAMOUS BRAND and CRANKSHAFT SUPPLY. Engine Tech is not charging a core charge so i am leaning towards them but am still having trouble believing that you can buy reman loaded LS head for under $350 each and have them be usable. please let me know what you guys think.

 

$700 no core sounds about right. That'd be like $250 w/ $100 core ea.

There's LOTS of em in the world; millions of trucks. Not something "rare" or anything so cores aren't at a premium.

 

Good to know. is it worth it to buy remans ? I see sets on here and on ebay for $400 to $450 a set used i an thinking thats a good deal. i just worry that the valves, springs and seats in a reman set are so bad that i would need to replace them with GM or better components making them not so cost effective.

 

Never know what you're going to get w remans... luck of the draw. Stock valves, springs, & hardware for sure. No way to predict what kind of shape the castings will be in, how far the seats had to be ground, wear on the guides, etc. But for all that, most of those places depend on repeat business from fleets and commercial customers, so they'll probably at least be functionable.

I wouldn't waste money on new GM anything for heads, with the possible exception of the really top-line valves.

 

Thanks for the info. Hope to have a good build sheet soon and start the build in a month or so after i intake more LS rebuild literature.

 

Those # sound low , core charge on 243s is gong to $200 up.

 

For what its worth to you, engine tech is a good outfit. The heads should be in top shape.