Madmaxdrifts

Hey y’all new to the LS world mostly been an import guy but recently sold all that and moved on to the V8 world. I picked up a couple of Gen 3 LQ4 blocks and I’m looking to build a N/A high compression build something simple and modest. HP goals of around 450-550. I am finding a lot of information on cylinder heads but was wondering in y’all’s opinions what’s the best choice for a N/A 6.0 build for that power and range. I currently have a couple good sets of 317 Cathedral port heads but read those are better for boost and I should look at LS3 heads 823 or the 243. Appreciate all the information. Thank you.

LS1 TJ

Maybe contact a local car club and ask which local salvage yard is a straight shooter.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

It's been said that cathedral heads provide more torque down low than rectangular port heads. The rectangular heads L92 (823) or LS3 (821) are essentially the same head with the only difference being that the 821's come with hollow stem intake valves and a better set of valve springs with both having 2.165 int and 1.59 exh valves. The rectangular heads do generally make more horsepower than cathedral port heads but only when referring to non ported stock castings. There's different castings of cathedral port heads ranging from the small bore 862 and 706 (Basically the same head) which have smaller valves (1.89 Int and 1.55 exh) up to the 241, 243/799 and 317's which all came with 2.00 intake and 1.55 exhaust valves. There's no arguing that rectangular port heads make more horsepower which was the deciding factor for me.

Madmaxdrifts

Unfortunately nothing near me at all. I’m in the rust belt and only yards near me are filled with garbage.

Madmaxdrifts

I agree I have the 317 heads and I’m looking for N/A power if I was boosting I’d keep them and run them but I’m trying to keep it simple and just stay N/A for the first build to get a firm grasp on it before going to crazy. Going to try and find a set of 823 used or light used and just rebuild. Worse case summit racing is my neighbor and I’m sure I can find something there.

GarageBeers

Good info thank you

G Atsma

Trying to build the ol' post count? Same reply everywhere....

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

That's coming from a guy who came on here a year after me who has four times as many posts as I have..LOL

No offense my man I'm just calling it like I see it!

G Atsma

None taken, my friend, and your comment is well founded.
What got my attention was the nearly identical reply to well over half a dozen threads on this forum alone.
His vehicle is an 09 Prius.... Why he mentioned it here is curious....
I post a lot, but not to me being repetitious and within minutes of each other.

01CamaroSSTx

iTrader: (3)

You left yourself wide open and I couldn't resist. I too think it's rather strange to be on an LS forum and stating you drive a Prius. Still cannot wrap my head around that one but I suppose an LS could fit in one but it would be a waste of a good LS engine.

G Atsma

As it turns out, he IS trying to up the count! LOL!

Che70velle

iTrader: (6)

I PM’d him yesterday some info for a guy local to me that deals in LS pullouts. He only sells quality, running units with a warranty. GarageBeers tried to PM me back and it wouldn’t let him due to low post count, so I imagine this is why all the 4-5 word posts by him today…to build post count. Yup Gary, you walked right into that one indeed. 😜

G Atsma

Yup. Shore did, but it's all good, especially if you're able to help him out here and there with your usual good advice.
Until I saw his thread, I almost thought he was a troll. I'm glad that's not the case.
He'll get lots of help here.

Bob570

How much money do you want to spend? A healthy cam with TFS 225s and a ported Fast 102 would probably eclipse 500 whp without too much trouble.

Doug G

I bought my LS3 heads straight from SDPC with the spring upgrade...figured by the time I bought heads (hoping they were good), had a machine shop go over them, add the .660 springs, I'd be close to the same price (got them cheap IMO)

Just another option.

Utinator

The LQ4 gives you almost too many options. For a budget build, I would mill the 317 heads about.030”, swap to flat top pistons, and use a Summit cam in the 228/232 range Oh, and stock TBSS intake, if you can find one. If not, the stock truck intake is fine. This combo should make over 500hp at the crank.

If you want to go wild, get TFS 220 heads, FAST-102 intake, flat top pistons, and bigger cam (comp 54-459-11). That combo should make over 550hp at the crank.

Launch

https://www.yellowbullet.com/threads...10-11.2668089/

Tuskyz28

No need to spend money on aftermarket heads for 550 horse motor. Richard H... built a 5.3 with Katech cnc 706 castings with a summit racing cam. Cheap cnc program and cheaper than camshaft. Motor made 508 horses at the crank.