Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads
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TECH Resident
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From: WA
Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads In your own opinion. What are the top five LS1 stage 2 heads. Not the best bargin, but the best head. Peak flow number are not everything. If you would. Give a reason for your answer. Thanks alot!
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Melbourne, FL
Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads I'd have to vote for ARE, but I am a little biased. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
I have 5.3 truck heads with 2.02/1.57" valves, not big fancy LS6 castings w/huge valves, and my car runs pretty decent. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
I have 5.3 truck heads with 2.02/1.57" valves, not big fancy LS6 castings w/huge valves, and my car runs pretty decent. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 462
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From: Austin, TX
Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads I am looking for some heads too. Here is what I have seen so far!
No vote for ARE here!
I dynoed with ARE heads and got 412 rwhp with my 382CI <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
After MTI worked on the heads I dynoed 450 rwhp! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
MTI is solid performance (very close #s on the dyno with no freaks in rwhp. All is about the same power).
GTP is also good with very good #s and very pricy (but they have some freak dyno #s. like very high rwhp).
TEA is all rounded will with there price and performance!
Absolute is very good in price but not seen any dyno #s.
ARE is not all that! You probably need a hell of big cam to make power!
Just my .02
No vote for ARE here!
I dynoed with ARE heads and got 412 rwhp with my 382CI <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
After MTI worked on the heads I dynoed 450 rwhp! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
MTI is solid performance (very close #s on the dyno with no freaks in rwhp. All is about the same power).
GTP is also good with very good #s and very pricy (but they have some freak dyno #s. like very high rwhp).
TEA is all rounded will with there price and performance!
Absolute is very good in price but not seen any dyno #s.
ARE is not all that! You probably need a hell of big cam to make power!
Just my .02
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Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads JPR, TEA, GTP, MTI, in no particular order. All consistent performers. You cannot beat JPR and TEA for the price, they are a great value. I personally am partial to JPR, because he ports all his heads by hand and gets great flow numbers using smaller valves than most of the other porters. His stage 2 heads are 2.02 intake, 1.55 (stock size) exhaust. Oh yeah- he also is getting similar power numbers with less compression- his stage 2s are 10.5:1. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads Perfect answer Damian!!!!
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Damian:
<strong> This is like asking which are the top 5 *****'s. They all work well, but everybody like's the one they own the best. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Damian:
<strong> This is like asking which are the top 5 *****'s. They all work well, but everybody like's the one they own the best. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads Steve.....don't get hung up on the flow #'s race. While your heads are 1-1/2 years old, and admittedly head flow #'s have increased marginally in that time, they flow as well as most SII's on the market. Catek's heads have ALWAYS proved to be consistant performers.
Just like dyno #'s don't tell the whole story, I've personally seen higher flowing heads not perform as well as lesser heads on any given application. Remember....you can have all the flow in the world but if your combined setup doesn't/can't take advantage of it....it's a mute point. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
With the particular cam(good choice for those heads BTW) and obligatory parts/setup you're running, you will be most pleased with your purchase. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Clean those suckers up.....slap'em on and go get yer target ET. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Just like dyno #'s don't tell the whole story, I've personally seen higher flowing heads not perform as well as lesser heads on any given application. Remember....you can have all the flow in the world but if your combined setup doesn't/can't take advantage of it....it's a mute point. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
With the particular cam(good choice for those heads BTW) and obligatory parts/setup you're running, you will be most pleased with your purchase. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Clean those suckers up.....slap'em on and go get yer target ET. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: new england
Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads As long as this post is not just a commercial for all the sponsors of this site, than i think its fair to claim my current stage 2, but stock valved heads as competitive from a flow stand point. Dyno results are starting to come in from my work and they will be reported here. My take is you cant have too many people working to get and offer the best flow from LS1 based heads! It only helps the breed! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Re: Top 5 LS1 stage2 heads Just MHO, take the CNC ported heads out of the equation if your looking for power combos. The CNC, correct me I am wrong, is basically set to cut the heads to a particular programmed area. Why is this not-so-good, well, if you take a hand porter, experienced of course, and give them the cam specs and he ports to the cam, you cannot go wrong. Which is why JPR and several "in-house/home porters" can outpower, by means of dyno/track performance, the BIG Companies CNC cut heads. Now, if you want peak flow and care less about the power to the tires, then CNC would be an excellent choice and all the ones named are well worth it. But again, you just can't beat matching a matched combo: the correct port size, shape, swirl, and valve size etc... for a given cam and you maximize the amount of flow and velocity. It is comparable to old carb setup, Edelbrock has the Performer RPM combo, cause it has proven that with that cam, intake and etc... that it is nearly unbeatable. Cylinder head flow and cams are no different.
Max flow-Hogged out chambers, big valves etc...
Max power-matched chambers, valves, etc. w/cam.
Charlie.
Max flow-Hogged out chambers, big valves etc...
Max power-matched chambers, valves, etc. w/cam.
Charlie.
