Why are heads so expensive?
Why are heads so expensive? Why are heads so expensive? with my cam tr224 112lsa, I'm guessing stage 2 heads are all I need, but what the hell does stage 2 mean? lol
Can I have mine ported at a local machine shop to the same specs? Is there a place I can buy the head ported on exchange and do the assembly myself? $1700-$2300 is to much for me. I can assemble the valve train myself. Why so much just for porting and polishing? I want to get the most out of my cam, without having to throw another $2k down. Maybe I should look for a junker and start experimenting. Anyone port their heads themselves at home with ordinary household implements? How can you measure depth accurately while your cutting/grinding without a mill setup?
I'm getting bored. Need to work on something without breaking the bank.
Can I have mine ported at a local machine shop to the same specs? Is there a place I can buy the head ported on exchange and do the assembly myself? $1700-$2300 is to much for me. I can assemble the valve train myself. Why so much just for porting and polishing? I want to get the most out of my cam, without having to throw another $2k down. Maybe I should look for a junker and start experimenting. Anyone port their heads themselves at home with ordinary household implements? How can you measure depth accurately while your cutting/grinding without a mill setup?
I'm getting bored. Need to work on something without breaking the bank.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
I've done some port matching on mine but nothing like porting them.
It takes countless hours of experience to get good results from hand porting.
You can get a set CNC'c for not too much, then polish and finish them + assembly, that I think you (I) could do.
It takes countless hours of experience to get good results from hand porting.
You can get a set CNC'c for not too much, then polish and finish them + assembly, that I think you (I) could do.
st 2 heads usually gets larger valves 2.02 1.57 but don't think the porting is any different.having a local shop do them could be a mistake. i've seem some local shope try to pore a ls1 head and not do so well.i would save money to be safe and know what your getting. speed inc heads,patroit and ap engineering all have heads around $1,500 to $1,700. i think ap engineering you can keep your old heads and sell them. the ap engineering st1 heads made near 400hp on their mustang dyno with a small 224 cam. i get tuned on that dyno so anything near 400hp on that thing is great. that dyno is a humbler it don't like to give #'s. goodluck yo ya.
Originally Posted by 99_black_SS_m6_T's
Why are heads so expensive? with my cam tr224 112lsa, I'm guessing stage 2 heads are all I need, but what the hell does stage 2 mean? lol
Can I have mine ported at a local machine shop to the same specs? Is there a place I can buy the head ported on exchange and do the assembly myself? $1700-$2300 is to much for me. I can assemble the valve train myself. Why so much just for porting and polishing? I want to get the most out of my cam, without having to throw another $2k down. Maybe I should look for a junker and start experimenting. Anyone port their heads themselves at home with ordinary household implements? How can you measure depth accurately while your cutting/grinding without a mill setup?
I'm getting bored. Need to work on something without breaking the bank.
Can I have mine ported at a local machine shop to the same specs? Is there a place I can buy the head ported on exchange and do the assembly myself? $1700-$2300 is to much for me. I can assemble the valve train myself. Why so much just for porting and polishing? I want to get the most out of my cam, without having to throw another $2k down. Maybe I should look for a junker and start experimenting. Anyone port their heads themselves at home with ordinary household implements? How can you measure depth accurately while your cutting/grinding without a mill setup?
I'm getting bored. Need to work on something without breaking the bank.
leaves lots of other options on how to get power.
and damn i hope u are cookied like a **** and dont have to sign it with that screen name every time [99_black_SS_m6_T's] 
they cost money b/c they know how to port them well, and you don't, basically. they've put the time and money into learning/figuring it out, and now they can charge you for it 
My cylinder heads are just what some guys like you may be looking for. They are a nice street head for guys just wanting alittle more out of thier combination and the price is way more down to earth.
Trending Topics
just remember.... you get what you pay for:
if you want it fast and cheap: it wont be GOOD
if you want it fast and good: it wont be CHEAP
and if you want it good and cheap: it wont be FAST
IMO save your money, and do it right the first time
if you want it fast and cheap: it wont be GOOD
if you want it fast and good: it wont be CHEAP
and if you want it good and cheap: it wont be FAST
IMO save your money, and do it right the first time
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 6
From: RainbowCity,Alabama
Originally Posted by dame
just remember.... you get what you pay for:
if you want it fast and cheap: it wont be GOOD
if you want it fast and good: it wont be CHEAP
and if you want it good and cheap: it wont be FAST
IMO save your money, and do it right the first time
if you want it fast and cheap: it wont be GOOD
if you want it fast and good: it wont be CHEAP
and if you want it good and cheap: it wont be FAST
IMO save your money, and do it right the first time
I still say that most of these head packages are a great value.
Consider the parts you're getting:
GM aluminum blanks
high quality valves
Valve job
CNC machining for improved flow
Seals
locks
Springs
Retainers
TEAs getting 318cfm out of their offerings. How else are you going to get your modded LS1 to make power if you can't get heads that flow? Talk to any builder and they'll tell, you "power is made in the heads."
To top it off, you buy a set of heads from these guys and you get their expertise to guide you on what parts you'll need to fully compliment your project beast.
Consider the parts you're getting:
GM aluminum blanks
high quality valves
Valve job
CNC machining for improved flow
Seals
locks
Springs
Retainers
TEAs getting 318cfm out of their offerings. How else are you going to get your modded LS1 to make power if you can't get heads that flow? Talk to any builder and they'll tell, you "power is made in the heads."
To top it off, you buy a set of heads from these guys and you get their expertise to guide you on what parts you'll need to fully compliment your project beast.
Originally Posted by ssheets
I still say that most of these head packages are a great value.
Consider the parts you're getting:
GM aluminum blanks
high quality valves
Valve job
CNC machining for improved flow
Seals
locks
Springs
Retainers
TEAs getting 318cfm out of their offerings. How else are you going to get your modded LS1 to make power if you can't get heads that flow? Talk to any builder and they'll tell, you "power is made in the heads."
To top it off, you buy a set of heads from these guys and you get their expertise to guide you on what parts you'll need to fully compliment your project beast.
Consider the parts you're getting:
GM aluminum blanks
high quality valves
Valve job
CNC machining for improved flow
Seals
locks
Springs
Retainers
TEAs getting 318cfm out of their offerings. How else are you going to get your modded LS1 to make power if you can't get heads that flow? Talk to any builder and they'll tell, you "power is made in the heads."
To top it off, you buy a set of heads from these guys and you get their expertise to guide you on what parts you'll need to fully compliment your project beast.
this is who i plan on going with when i get the $$!! TEA LS6 stg 2.5
and damn i hope u are cookied like a **** and dont have to sign it with that screen name every time [99_black_SS_m6_T's] [/QUOTE]cookies yum! Yea I know its long but I feked up
when first entering so I'm stuck with it. cookies are your friend Damn looks like I'll be saving for a while. Can anyone explain the stages of heads?
2, 2.5, 3. I know the power goes up with each stage but isnt there a certain point where my stock bottom end or cam doesnt need to go above? I have a TR224 with all the mods in my sig. But its still a stock bottom end. And with rotating assemblies going at 4-6k I'm not going to be changing that for a very long time.
2, 2.5, 3. I know the power goes up with each stage but isnt there a certain point where my stock bottom end or cam doesnt need to go above? I have a TR224 with all the mods in my sig. But its still a stock bottom end. And with rotating assemblies going at 4-6k I'm not going to be changing that for a very long time.
I would go not bigger than a 2.02/1.57 valve set up. I would say that there isnt enough difference to speak of between a 2 and a 2.5 stage, usually a stage 3 is a "race" head.
stage 3 is also popularly thrown around when referring to stroker heads....when using even larger valves(2.08 or 2.10) and such...set up for "race" duty or not, in my experience.
99_black_SS_m6_T's, you can go post up in the Support forum near the top of the forum Index(forum main page) and ask PSJ or NineBall to change your screen name to something else that is not taken. they do it all the time!!
99_black_SS_m6_T's, you can go post up in the Support forum near the top of the forum Index(forum main page) and ask PSJ or NineBall to change your screen name to something else that is not taken. they do it all the time!!
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
I did a set of l98 heads myself and also did a set of lt1 heads. the l98 turned out fine, the lt1 had some probs and I had to get them redone, but it didn't cost too much. Where are you located???
Originally Posted by Bo White
My cylinder heads are just what some guys like you may be looking for. They are a nice street head for guys just wanting alittle more out of thier combination and the price is way more down to earth.
Part of it is supply and demand, people are willing to pay that price for them, so why would the lower it??
On a side note later this summer I will be selling my stage 2 heads for about $800, I can PM you when I do if you'd like?
-Stvee
On a side note later this summer I will be selling my stage 2 heads for about $800, I can PM you when I do if you'd like?
-Stvee