Value of 799 cylinder heads?
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Joined: Dec 2017
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They're not worth much. There's like BILLIONS of em in junkyards on trucks from 2008 to 2013 or whatever it is. Not like the days when they only came on LS6 and such.
So yeah, around here a pair of "guaranteed good" cores (they'll give you another core if one is fornicated) goes for around $250 or so. Depends ALOT on what you tell the junkyard counter guy: if you talk about casting numbers and all such as that, they'll spot you INSTANTLY as a hot-rodder playing with his toys, and charge you the $500 cover charge. If you tell em you're a plumber or a landscaper or something and you need to get your old sufferin rusted-out 2009 plow mule back on the road because your customers are screaming, you'll get the fair straight-up price.
As far as "complete", the sky is the limit; depending on what they're "complete" WITH. A set of stock ones with stock springs and stock everything else in running condition, freshly machined from the corner parts store, might be $500 or so. I'm not talking about race prep of course.
So yeah, around here a pair of "guaranteed good" cores (they'll give you another core if one is fornicated) goes for around $250 or so. Depends ALOT on what you tell the junkyard counter guy: if you talk about casting numbers and all such as that, they'll spot you INSTANTLY as a hot-rodder playing with his toys, and charge you the $500 cover charge. If you tell em you're a plumber or a landscaper or something and you need to get your old sufferin rusted-out 2009 plow mule back on the road because your customers are screaming, you'll get the fair straight-up price.
As far as "complete", the sky is the limit; depending on what they're "complete" WITH. A set of stock ones with stock springs and stock everything else in running condition, freshly machined from the corner parts store, might be $500 or so. I'm not talking about race prep of course.
Last edited by RB04Av; Sep 21, 2025 at 06:47 PM.
IMO there only worth what some one will pay.
To me any more than $200 for a pair is not worth it. Every set I purchased in the last few years has needed work.
Same with floating rods.... Just because they came out a running engine doesn't mean they meet spec. More often then not, the pin bushings need to be replaced. I can get a set locally for about $150 that have already been refurbished.
To me any more than $200 for a pair is not worth it. Every set I purchased in the last few years has needed work.
Same with floating rods.... Just because they came out a running engine doesn't mean they meet spec. More often then not, the pin bushings need to be replaced. I can get a set locally for about $150 that have already been refurbished.
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Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Central Cal.
I don't THINK 799s were in production until after the LS6 went out of production. In fact it might have started with Gen IV production since all Gen IV cathedral head engines used them, so many more 243-type heads were needed, so they started sandcasting them which is the main difference between the 243 and 799.
I don't THINK 799s were in production until after the LS6 went out of production. In fact it might have started with Gen IV production since all Gen IV cathedral head engines used them, so many more 243-type heads were needed, so they started sandcasting them which is the main difference between the 243 and 799.
It is my understanding that the 799 heads also don't use the sodium exhaust valves, where the 243s do?....
LS6 got the lighter valves. The LS6 came in the CTSV also, along with the C5Z. I never saw an LS6 with 799 heads, but if someone out there has one, I wouldn’t be surprised. The most assured way of being proven wrong in this world of automotive options, is to think you know all about it. To answer your question Grinder…I don’t know….lol.
Last edited by grinder11; Oct 6, 2025 at 03:38 PM.