Best heads for 500hp?
Little compression, little more rpm, stable good valvetrain, no intake restriction... you can get 500whp very easily on an ls1/ls6.
It is more about choosing the right parts to do it, not about throwing the biggest parts at it.
It is more about choosing the right parts to do it, not about throwing the biggest parts at it.
This was my old setup, made 510-520 wheel. (could have made over 500 without the hi ram).
- 346 sbe ls6
- Tfs 220s, as cast, 64cc with ls3 turned down intake valves, btr shaft mount rockers, Manton 11/32 rods, and Johnson st2126lsr lifters
- Holley hi ram with shearer fab lid and nx plenum spacer plate for the nitrous. Katech 103mm tb
- Gz motorsports vacuum pump
- Cometic 0.040 head gasket
- E85
- Btr stage 4 ls3 cam (233/250, 0.618/0.596)
- ATI Balancer
- TSP 1.75" Longtubes
And while I did put some thought into what went into that setup, some of it was just tossed together ****. With the old setup, which was tea stage 2 243s(2.04 ferrea intake valve, so dropped about 20 grams of intake valve weight on the new setup), fast 102, ls2 tb, ls7 lifters. This setup on a dyno jet made 470/420 wheel SAE and 418/380 on a mustang dyno.
I think a newer cam with a bit more lift and maybe even a tad less exhaust duration would have touched 500 with the fast and the 103mm tb. My issue with the 243s was ptv clearance, so I couldn't chase more compression without fly cutting. If I would have fly cut the pistons, guarantee the fast combo would have made the same power with ease on the 243s.
I think a newer cam with a bit more lift and maybe even a tad less exhaust duration would have touched 500 with the fast and the 103mm tb. My issue with the 243s was ptv clearance, so I couldn't chase more compression without fly cutting. If I would have fly cut the pistons, guarantee the fast combo would have made the same power with ease on the 243s.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 10
Tony does sell various set's of custom CNC heads, not just ported OEM's. He is the best, period. He has heads for almost any set-up you could imagine (cathedral, rec, LS7, etc). Heads alone won't give you power, that's not how it works. You need heads that can support that power, but the rest of the combo has to support it. Tony offers soup to nuts service and can tailor your combo however you want with unmatched customer service. Remember, a dyno is a tool only. 500rwhp on a dynojet is not 500rwhp on a mustang dyno. Track times are the true measure of power. Don't get too focused on a number, instead, focus on what you use the car for. 450rwhp that's drivable is worlds better than a stumbling, surging humungous 500hp cammed combo.
Tony does sell various set's of custom CNC heads, not just ported OEM's. He is the best, period. He has heads for almost any set-up you could imagine (cathedral, rec, LS7, etc). Heads alone won't give you power, that's not how it works. You need heads that can support that power, but the rest of the combo has to support it. Tony offers soup to nuts service and can tailor your combo however you want with unmatched customer service. Remember, a dyno is a tool only. 500rwhp on a dynojet is not 500rwhp on a mustang dyno. Track times are the true measure of power. Don't get too focused on a number, instead, focus on what you use the car for. 450rwhp that's drivable is worlds better than a stumbling, surging humungous 500hp cammed combo.
I have seen baby cam cars surge and buck... If the tuner can't tune, idc what cam is in it.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 10
My car at 450whp and 500+ wheel was no different drivability wise. Most all idle and drivability characteristics are solely tune related. I could idle around in 1st gear at 1-2k rpm with no issues, as well as cruise the car in 6th at 45mph without bucking.
I have seen baby cam cars surge and buck... If the tuner can't tune, idc what cam is in it.
I have seen baby cam cars surge and buck... If the tuner can't tune, idc what cam is in it.
Certainly there is truth to this, but I wouldn't say it the norm. You probably also have a lot of extras that help that power number creep up (crank scraper, valvetrain upgrades, ported intake etc.).
Tony does sell various set's of custom CNC heads, not just ported OEM's. He is the best, period. He has heads for almost any set-up you could imagine (cathedral, rec, LS7, etc). Heads alone won't give you power, that's not how it works. You need heads that can support that power, but the rest of the combo has to support it. Tony offers soup to nuts service and can tailor your combo however you want with unmatched customer service. Remember, a dyno is a tool only. 500rwhp on a dynojet is not 500rwhp on a mustang dyno. Track times are the true measure of power. Don't get too focused on a number, instead, focus on what you use the car for. 450rwhp that's drivable is worlds better than a stumbling, surging humungous 500hp cammed combo.
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Verdad Gallardo I saw your post but not much detail on your build as there has to be more to it. I will do more reading before pulling trigger on anything. I was also looking at
XXTREME 245 LS1/LS2 CATHEDRAL 3.898 SMALL BORE. Any thoughts on these heads? https://promaxxperformance.com/produ...sold-in-pairs/
Your the only person to ever claim these numbers from stock or even cleaned up Ls6 heads. Dont you find that a little odd? They are not even close to anything realistic. Stop acting like those are your typical numbers from you basic LS6 head.
Your basic H/C LS1 is going to be 440-470rwhp. Port everything possible to port and throw all the tricks at it and you'll get 500. Jack the compression way up and you'll see over 500.Thats the fact of it.
Thousands of H/C dyno results in the dyno section prove that.
Your basic H/C LS1 is going to be 440-470rwhp. Port everything possible to port and throw all the tricks at it and you'll get 500. Jack the compression way up and you'll see over 500.Thats the fact of it.
Thousands of H/C dyno results in the dyno section prove that.
Gm gave us a great platform. Utilize what's already there instead of trying to turn it into a old-school sbc and you will also get good results.
The numbers I post are typical and repeatable......backed up at the track to. Except for my current combo because I haven't ran it yet.
Just like you mentioned " jack up the compression " like it's a bad thing. The only bad thing is if you don't......the common sense of the matter is if you cam it and especially h/c it without upping the compression is you did it wrong. And that's a fact.
But you can continue being subpar if you like.
Book a ride on Art Arfons Green Monster, then head directly away from AI.......
What are best heads for high rpm cam ls1 with 16k miles? Current tune has fast 102 with ported worked 241 heads. Put down 422rwhp @12.2 afr. Advanced induction is hard to get ahold of. I was looking at Frankenstein 240cc m115 heads. As they look to flow well but are pricy. Ai look to be only heads in that range other than afr or mass heads which are even more. Let me know your thoughts as I will be swapping intake for a msd 103 as well which I hear out runs the fast 102 when you hit 5k rpm. Looking to get close to 500rwhp.
Narrowed it down between Frankenstein F110 265CC LS1/2/6, mamo 227 heads, and Brodix BP BR 1 13 (unable to reach toney and know prices showing for their in house heads on website) people who saying heads for purchase on his site please post link so I can review. Also looking at a procharger.
Last edited by 2000Phoenix; Nov 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM.
There are thousands of dyno results in the dyno section. Show us 5 cars running stock Ls6 Heads and a Ls6 cam making your "typical" numbers. With an NA pump gas 346. Should be easy since its typical.
Never said upping the compression is a bad thing. But most will want to be able to pull in any gas station and fill up with 93. If your running 12.5:1 or higher....your probably not filling up with 93.
Never said upping the compression is a bad thing. But most will want to be able to pull in any gas station and fill up with 93. If your running 12.5:1 or higher....your probably not filling up with 93.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 644
Likes: 575
From: Carnation, WA
I have bought two sets of heads (and the rest of the combo … cam, intake, etc.) from Tony. I don’t recall ever seeing prices on his website. I’ve always talked to him on the phone. I suspect that he likes to do it that way because he can give better service and tailor the results better to what you’re looking for.
If I had to build 10 more engines, Tony‘s heads would be on all of them. And he would likely be giving very significant input into 99% of the rest of the combination as well.
His stuff is not cheap, but in my opinion, “cheap” usually doesn’t get you very good results.
If I had to build 10 more engines, Tony‘s heads would be on all of them. And he would likely be giving very significant input into 99% of the rest of the combination as well.
His stuff is not cheap, but in my opinion, “cheap” usually doesn’t get you very good results.
I have bought two sets of heads (and the rest of the combo … cam, intake, etc.) from Tony. I don’t recall ever seeing prices on his website. I’ve always talked to him on the phone. I suspect that he likes to do it that way because he can give better service and tailor the results better to what you’re looking for.
If I had to build 10 more engines, Tony‘s heads would be on all of them. And he would likely be giving very significant input into 99% of the rest of the combination as well.
His stuff is not cheap, but in my opinion, “cheap” usually doesn’t get you very good results.
If I had to build 10 more engines, Tony‘s heads would be on all of them. And he would likely be giving very significant input into 99% of the rest of the combination as well.
His stuff is not cheap, but in my opinion, “cheap” usually doesn’t get you very good results.
He has some set of more common heads on his shelf. How ever he puts together each combo specific to what a customer needs. He has Several options for valves and springs depending on your needs.
Best way to contact Tony is via email. He’s one of my best friends. Be patient….it’s the holidays and work is very busy. I promise you he will get back with you and you’ll be overwhelmingly happy with your final results.
