I usually spent the extra buck to get the better part, like for example, I passed on the LS2 chain in favor of a JWIS Chain from thunder for 160 bucks.

Either way, I am about as mechanically inclined as a 3 armed monkey, so the work will be done by my buddy who will come down in June for 2 months. So basically, I have this window of opportunity from now till August to do this. The AFR's are tempting, just because of their reputation, but they might be overkill for what kind of driving I do. I don't go to the track, I just want more than 400 rwhp. And don't forget, I still need to shell out some money for new valve covers as well.

So....in a way, my budget is that I can spare around 400 bucks a month to save for this, and the rest would have to go on the credit card, which I really don't like doing.

I'll have to wait and see how things pan out. New tires were more important right now, so that just cost me another 563 dollars....without install.

 

head gaskets arent close to $250. if u use a gm gasket they are waaaay cheaper if u use cometics they are about 95 each. u can also use gm ls7 replacement lifters which arent $200. u wont be revving high enough to justify the caddy ones, thunder prob included new head bolts in that kit which u will need. also i dont know what injectors u have but u will most likely need them. so here make urself a list.
1. heads
2. gaskets + bolts
3. injectors?
4. lifters
5. valve covers (search 4 sale section)
6. coil pack brackets (search 4 sale section)
7. retune

ur pushrods should be fine.
so by my calc's u r looking at under 2k if done with a little searching, just a tad over if u buy all brand new.

 

Yea not sure were I came up with the 250 gasket..hahaha might have been from a set. Not sure but anyway Texas speed has the gm gaskets and heads bolts for $150 total. I've already relocated my coils to under the cowl so I have my covers and brackets that I dont need and will sell to you if you like. The covers have been painted black but you can strip them and go with what ever color you like.

The AFR's are worth the money even for just a street car. I would also go with ARP heads studs if you want ease of use.

Injectors from ebay are 210 for ford 30#'s wich is what I'm using from them, blueoval industries is the seller.

 

If I do this, I'd be very interested in your valve covers for sure!

Injectors....well that's a new can of worms.....don't the 98 cars have bigger injectors than the 99 and up to begin with? Why do I need those, is the increased airflow from the heads too much to handle for the 98 stockers?

Sigh....

"Yeah, just throw those heads on there".....I wish!!!

Then again...you wanna play, you gotta pay!

 

Its possible that you'll reach your injectors limits but not a definate. Used heads are a good deal if your looking to save money. The arp's arent cheap.

 

IMO to get it all heads,lifters,rockers etc,etc and labor tune the things that weren't taken into consideration,misc items 10.000 would be fair to say to get the maximum hp we all want and there will always be 1 more thing. save the money and buy a ls7 505 hp stock mol and your done ,turn key operation, and think how badd *** the badges would look on your car !!!!!!!

 

Uuuhm....that defeats the purpose of the hobby..and...compared to how it sounds now, the car would sound like a *****.

 

u will be pushing it with the injectors. id invest in some svo 30# atleast. if u plan on going bigger down the road buy 42# now and get it over with. like said earlier u can get out of this for just over 2k with all new parts and prob right at with a couple used parts here and there. i decided to go with the big dollar tfs heads because of my poor cam selection from the get go and ill be over 5k by the time they are on the car.

 

Hmm...new injectors.....how much can the stock fuel pump handle?

 

enough to support your car. id say prob in the area of 500rwhp maybe a tad less before it starts to get overworked.

 

Well now that I have traction thanks to a set of new BFG KD, that makes it even more neccessary to get heads.....coz right now I can no longer impress the ricers by being able to spin the rears at will, like I used to!

 

what would be considered the best head out there? the RHS, AFR, TFS??? what about L92s or LS7 heads (for me, not him since i have a 4.125 bore hehe) the heads i have are the stock 98 heads just like him but mine are ported way out since there were very few options back when i did my car.