408 budget heads
408 budget heads Running what i am told is 11.6 compression with 4.035 bore on a LQ9 right now with crappy basically stock 241 heads and a LS6 intake. The car made 450 rwhp on a mild nitrous tune but i expect there is a lot more left in her with a 241/253 cam and .624 lift. This is also a pump gas car so trying to keep the CR on the 93 friendly side of things. Just looking for the best bang for buck options out there. I figured PRC LQ9 heads with a 72 cc chamber or L92 heads but i am open to any advice.
Last edited by cbr600rx7; May 13, 2011 at 03:12 PM.
Any help guys. I might have a deal on a set of LS3 heads with intake for 1K put not sure whats going to give me the best bang for buck. I am assuming to run the LS3 set up i would have to get a 90mm TB and find a set of LS2/LS3 fuel rails as well. Not sure if i can use my current head bolts with the LS3 heads???
Any help guys. I might have a deal on a set of LS3 heads with intake for 1K put not sure whats going to give me the best bang for buck. I am assuming to run the LS3 set up i would have to get a 90mm TB and find a set of LS2/LS3 fuel rails as well. Not sure if i can use my current head bolts with the LS3 heads???
The PRC LQ9 heads would decrease your compression a bit. If you wanted to keep it about the same you would go with the PRC LS6 or "243" heads. It all depends on how much you want to spend on a heads and intake combo. You are probably losing about 50rwhp with your current ones.
Thanks for the reply. Yes i am running ARP bolts right now. So my next question is what is the better combo ported LS3 heads with LS3 intake or PRC LQ9s shaved .022 to help keep compression up with a LS6 intake. It sounds like i will be spending about the same both ways by the time i buy fuel rails and a TB for the LS3 set up.
The LS3's will make good power compared to the ls6 heads. You might lose a little bottom end grunt but they will shine up top. They have been proven as a good flowing budget setup compared to buying a high dollar cathedral port like AFR or TFS heads. If you are going to go with that I would get the stock intake ported too.
Thanks for the advice guys. I am sure i will be asking many more questions on here and doing a lot of digging to help this go smooth. One question i have is can i re use my ARP head bolts off of the 241s or do i need to use bolts specific for the LS3 heads. Also i have read a few guys say that the lighter valves on the LS3 heads have issues with duel valve springs but then other guys in the same thread say thats not the case so any one with experience please feel free to drop in.
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Verdad Gallardo So just for the record and any one else that does a search and finds this. You can use the same headers you would run on your typical LS1/LS6 heads (241,243,317,etc) You will also need the LS3 intake, 90mm or bigger TB, LS2 fuel rails, and different injectors since they are shorter.
If i am forgetting something feel free to post up. When searching for info on this i found a lot of dead in thread that did not give a clear answer.
If i am forgetting something feel free to post up. When searching for info on this i found a lot of dead in thread that did not give a clear answer.
You will need the ls3 rockers. They have the offset that is needed for the rectangular port. As for the pushrods I think you will be fine re-using the old ones but I would still check the length on it.
After doing a lot of reading and looking at a few options i am not sure if the LS3 heads are going to be the best route for me. Would there be any advantage to a ported LS3 head over something like a patriot 243 68cc heads. With a .041 gasket they should give me right around 11.25 compression. I am just unsure of how the set of 243 heads with bigger valves with a LS6 intake would compare to a ported set of LS3 heads and the LS3 intake.
One question i have is with the 243 head being used on the LS6 and the LS2. The LS6 being a 346 and the LS2 having a 4 inch bore but still using the same head just seams strange to me.
One thing i like about keeping a 241/243 head is i will not be messing around with push rod height. Also not having to change my intake, TB, Fuel rails, injectors, rockers, and any other stuff that might come up like push rods and brackets.
One question i have is with the 243 head being used on the LS6 and the LS2. The LS6 being a 346 and the LS2 having a 4 inch bore but still using the same head just seams strange to me.
One thing i like about keeping a 241/243 head is i will not be messing around with push rod height. Also not having to change my intake, TB, Fuel rails, injectors, rockers, and any other stuff that might come up like push rods and brackets.
Yeah for the money the LS3 heads are a great bang for the buck. Also the Dart 225cc heads may not be a bad option for the money and once you have funds available you can port them to your needs.
Just not trying to brake the bank or get to much into valve geometry. About 800-900 bucks for a set of ported LS3 heads, 200 for a intake, 100 for fuel rails, rockers, push rods, and new TB could run well into the 1600 plus range.