TSP Stage 2.5 5.3L Heads... Who has them?
 

I'm building a budget street car and I'm considering going with these heads and either the torquer-2 or 228R cam. Just tring to decide if this is a good setup or if I should just suck it up and pay out for a set of AFR's...? But buying a set of AFR's will dig into my 12-bolt $$$...

So who has these heads... and what cam are you running? Looking for feedback?

I went with that setup for the same reasons. For the price and the gain doesnt seem like you could go wrong. The extra 1k you save can go toward other stuff in the future. I went with the 233/239 cam. I think it's a great setup.

I have those heads with aTr224/112 cam and ported fast and put down 417rwhp 407 rwt in an A4.when I was just cammed with a Ls6 intake i put down 350 rwhp. Thats a 67rwhp gain with those heads and a ported fast 90 set up in an A4.Hope this helps you out
john

Like John, I have these heads with a 224/224 (but with .581 lift) on a 112LSA. I have a MN6 C5 Vette. My #'s are 410whp/390tq. I started off with 317whp with just an intake, and I added longtubes (with cats), UD pulley, LS6 intake, 5.3 heads, and the 224 cam. This netted me 93whp. I'm not sure why John's doing so much better than me with an A4, except that I believe you F-body guys have it easier with your rear diff. That, and dynos do vary.

I looked seriously at AFR's, but went with the 5.3's. The way I see it is, if you are going to try to keep squeezing and squeezing hp out of your car, you are probably better off doing the AFR's. If you go with the 5.3's, you are limiting your max potential. Like me, for instance; I don't really have much more I can do for more power, outside of adding nitrous, or selling my 5.3's and going up to AFR's. Yeah, I could do a FAST 90/90, but I don't want to spend that kind of money for another 15whp (with most of the torque increase being up top). So, if 430whp sounds like heaven (that's my guess on the 228R with 5.3's), and you don't think you'll really want to push it to the limit, the 5.3's are great. If, however, you think you'll want to squeeze every last hp out of your LS1, go ahead and shell out the $$ now, and you'll be done with heads forever. :)

Tim,
If it was meant to be, you'd have mine...but I have BAD luck...

Go AFR man...done

(ps-no one will know what I am talking about cept you lol)
Erik

I have the first gen PRC 2.5 5.3L heads with a T2. I put down 414RWHP and 385RWTQ through cats with LS6 Intake and stock TB on my car. I know they have improved the CNC program on these heads and have put down some killer numbers.

Haha, shit happens. I'm on the fence, it's the fact that I can buy the heads, cam, timing chain, pushrods... and still be less that the AFRs...

Dude, I hear ya man...why do you think I bought em?
You did mention BUDGET...

Hell, go with the PRC's...mill em maybe and get a lil more out of em for WAY less than AFR's...

How's that?
E

Thats what I was thinking... not sure how much I could mill them without clearence issue's. I'll have to call TSP and ask if they'll do it in house...

anybody have track #'s comparing the prc vs. afr? i know both are good products.

TSP will mill them. Although with a smaller gasket you cant go far without flycut.
I Have a set about to go on my car. Im using a 040 gasket and im gonna clay to see if i can mill 010. The cam is a XER 230 on 114. I have ported Fast, etc and hope to be close to the AFR #s in the 450 rwp range - NA of course

And honestly id buy Trick flows for 2300 + rockers before AFRs but AFRs are nice. The TSP heads come with the PRC dual springs which im on my 3rd set and love. I beieive the AFrs require a spring upgrade.

I've got them on the TA with the MS3 and I put down 423 HP and 385 TQ with the mail order tune from TSP. The car still has stock intake, throttle body and pulley. I had my tuner go back through the PCM and I'd say the car is now in the 450 HP range. The damn thing pulls like a freight train above 3800 RPM. Can't wait until I get back from this deployment to spray the 150 shot

I have em with the torquer v.3. I like them so far.

I have the same stuff.,...and yes it pulls...but I dunno it lacks torque...I guess that is what the 150 shot is for bro lol

I glad I went with these heads. Some real good feedback from these. Can't wait to install them. I talked to TSP about milling them all they charge is $75 to do it.

I've got a set of TSP 5.3's milled to 59cc waiting for more parts. I need to save for new headers & injectors before putting them on. I have Wiseco pistons with valve reliefs, so I had some leeway on PtV clearance. I ordered the 2.02" intake version, and mated it with Cometic .040's and a 227/235 110+2 .644/.650 LSK cam.

Exactly

I also have a ported fast intake.I got it from Ron at Vengeance.They are 20plus Rwhp over an Ls6 when ported.i got it cuz I may step up in cubes in the future.