Average costs of porting and polishing heads?
 

I am going to be doing a cam swap soon (TSP 233/239) and was thinking of having the heads ported and polished while I'm at it.

Any past experience on the costs associated with this? I know what the cam swap and associated costs are with that, but want to know about doing the heads while I'm at it.

Thanks!

Just buy a set of stage II heads for ~$2000.

I have an LS6 motor with the LS6 heads and just want to clean them up rather than buy another set of heads. Thanks though!

An experienced shop would p/p them for $500 or so.

yep, ~$500 for port & polishing, or ~$300 for cleanup

Cool, thats what I was thinking/hoping.

What I plan to do this spring is this:
233/239 cam
double roller timing chain
hardened pushrods
PRC Double valve springs
Morel lifters
Port and polish the heads
ASP pulley's
Have it dynotuned again

Doing 389 rwhp/387rwtq right now, hoping to hit 425 to 450 rwhp and the 400+rwtq. The engine only has about 3000 miles on it right now so I think the oil pump and timing chain will be okay as they are and that the stock LS6 valves wouldbe okay to keep. The idea I have is to create as much usable power across the powerband as possible rather than shoot for peak top end numbers.

This summer will see a 12 bolt with 4:10's and a Ram clutch installed, possibly some lowering springs and related parts.

Thoughts or suggestions anyone?

I paid 1400 for full port and polish and milling a flow check so the price varies on what part of the country your at

depends on what type of results you're looking for. I talked to TEA and they quoted me over 1700 for a full workup on a stg2.5 if I supplied the heads. Those are some of the best LS6 heads out there IMHO. You definitely get what you pay for. You could also give FFHP a call, Scott should be able to help you out. Both shops I've mentioned are top notch and will take care of you.

those prices at 1400 and 1700 better include parts :eek2: there is absolutely no reason to pay $1700 for a port job when you can pick up a set of COMPLETE AFR's that'll outperform them and are better castings and no core chare for $2k.

btw i don't think you'll have a problem hittin 420+rwhp with what you have planned and i don't think you'll need these ridiculously priced port jobs to do it either. :engarde:

A lot of the times it depends on the quality of the head port work. Hand porting can get very expensive when you add R&R of seats and guides, valvejob and angle milling.

If your LS6 motor is a 2001 model you may have LS1 valves...there was no difference between the LS1 and the LS6 that initial year. 2002 and later had the lightweight hollow/sodium filled stems...

The motor is a crate LS6/ZO6, 405hp at the flywheel manufactured in early 2004.

I just want to have these heads flow as cleanly as possible, this motor already pulls like a mule on viagra and steroids, but there is always room for more. To take full advantage of the mods I listed I thought that a nice port and polish would be helpful. As long as I'm working on a cam change and stuff, I thought what the hell lets do this at the same time.

I know you don't have to remove the heads to do the cam change, just thinking that we could hit the top end of the motor all at once while everything else is apart.

By the way, thanks to everyone who responded, I sincerely appreciate the input and will use this in making the decision on what all is done.

Your not going to get shit for $400.I would say anywhere from 1500 to 2300 in labor.
Hell I paid greg good $1000 to REPORT my 238cfm ex. ports to 254 cfm(without a tube on a 3.905bore).You get what you pay for.

do you happen to have Greg's contact info? PM it me if you can

Thanx

Floyd.

what you runnin with those $$$ heads? :eyes:

:|

riiiiight. thats why TEA heads are found on some of the fastest LSx motors in the country. they're not rediculously overpriced. you generally get what you pay for! he could call FFHP and get damn near the same quality for 1200 maybe? he already has ls6 heads....doesn't have to pay core. why spend more?

You realy dont know what you are talking about.The only benifit we've seen so far is the thicker deck ,broader spring pockets and such.I haven't seen ONE set of afr heads that out flowed a all out ls6 head?

To reply to your Q.
I haven't sprayed the car yet with the 395 which is where the exaust ports will shine but on the motor it went a 6.9 with 22degrees of timing.Whats your car run?I'm sure from the looks of you extensive knowlege your car is flying.

Guys compare apples to apples. Meaning:
take an identical runner volume factory cast and put it against an afr heads, there is no comparison. AFR are 205 cc intake, yet still they are with par to a good stage 2 who run much much larger intake runners.

o yes, i've seen many tea heads put out Afr numbers with a 205cc intake, RIGGGGHHHTTT!!!!

how many $1700 port jobs have put out this kind of power? https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ight=afr+heads

does your 395 even do that? i doubt it :jest:

and i never claimed spendin more money on heads would net you a better time, since you did make that claim and said you'd spent the $$$ on your heads, i wanted to see what you ran

sr71bbjr, what area you from? maybe we can put this to a real world test instead of just talkin bout it ... your big money heads 395 vs my lil o 346 on some crappy budget heads :burn:

remember everyone, unless you have a ton of money in your heads you'll never be fast, just ask magnus and 01-z