Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Advice on a good head swap?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 29, 2006 | 01:38 PM
  #1  
sdbrown84's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default Advice on a good head swap?

I am starting my search for a good set of heads. The mods are below in sig, but most importantly I do not need to buy any springs/retainers as I already blew too much on those Comp 921's .

I would like a quality set that offers the best bang for the buck. Currently leaning toward the TSP LS6 w/competition valve job.

What input do you guys have? Any suggestions or ideas would be great.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2006 | 02:17 PM
  #2  
black01_WS6's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,857
Likes: 0
From: Fort Myers, FL.
Default

get the bare castings from gunner and have a sponsor put them together and machine them. You will have under 1000 total and have a nice set of heads if you already have everything that goes in them
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2006 | 02:42 PM
  #3  
CRASH Bandicoot's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Default

Go with TSP
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2006 | 04:03 PM
  #4  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

How much do you want/have to spend on heads is the first question.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2006 | 04:30 PM
  #5  
GuitsBoy's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,249
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Default

Best bang for the buck are the stock valves 243 casting heads (ls6). You can add options for fairly cheap too. nothing wrong with patriot as theyre a great budget head.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2006 | 05:47 PM
  #6  
Sigforty's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
From: Was New Orleans, but swam to Baton Rouge
Default

Darts are a good choice. I made 28 rwhp with them over my stock Ls6 heads.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 02:36 AM
  #7  
sdbrown84's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default

What would be a good head in the $1000 dollar range off the shelf? Is it best to port bare 243 castings?
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 08:36 AM
  #8  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

TSP ls6 heads or look for some used heads
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 08:42 AM
  #9  
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Default

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/544423-new-243-castings-385-00-per-pair.html

This sale is going on till Sept 4th I believe. You can get a Stage 1 with valves and seals only, just slap on your 921s.
Contact Gunnar, you cannot beat that price for 243 CNC ported casting.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 09:55 AM
  #10  
GuitsBoy's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,249
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Default

Yeah, definately the patriot 243's. Best bang for the buck.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 11:54 AM
  #11  
99blancoSS's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (115)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 3
From: ST Helens, OR
Default

What was the issue with Patriot heads? A year or two back there was a problem, cant remember what it was but its made me leery of recommending them. Was it a valve spring issue? They are certainly priced to sell no doubt.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 12:47 PM
  #12  
GuitsBoy's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,249
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
Default

An issue with valves. They now use either stock valves or ferra valves IIRC.
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2006 | 01:04 PM
  #13  
PREDATOR-Z's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Default

That is old news (over 2 years ago) and quality control has improved tremendeously. Just PM Gunnar, if just out of curiosity.
They are on top of their ball game now.
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2006 | 11:54 AM
  #14  
sdbrown84's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default

Wow. Yeah that is a reasonable price. Anyone know what kind of gains can be had with these heads ported?
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:10 PM
  #15  
will69camaro's Avatar
Sex On Wheels
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,549
Likes: 23
Default

Nice another heads/cam orange car. I recently got some goodies for my car (ls6 heads) that are getting sent to TSP to be CNC ported and i'm still looking for a cam to go along with it. Not sure on how big i wanna go yet however.

William
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2006 | 12:15 PM
  #16  
sdbrown84's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default

Originally Posted by will69camaro
Nice another heads/cam orange car. I recently got some goodies for my car (ls6 heads) that are getting sent to TSP to be CNC ported and i'm still looking for a cam to go along with it. Not sure on how big i wanna go yet however.

William
HAHA nice! Yeah I really want to get the 243 castings and have them ported. I am seriously considering these heads.
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2006 | 01:20 PM
  #17  
sdbrown84's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 907
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default

So what else is needed besides the copleted set of heads for a complete head swap from the 241 to the 243s.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:47 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE