Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

Ls2 or ls3 top end???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 19, 2011 | 06:58 AM
  #1  
trxman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Default Ls2 or ls3 top end???

I'm doing a ls2 build with a four inch stroke. I was going to put the ls3 heads and intake on but I think that's going to hurt my wallet too much. But I also think a set of cnc ls2 and going to be big money. I don't know what to go with

John
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 08:45 AM
  #2  
cfn101788's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Default

Im in the same boat as you man. I was thinking LS3 heads or Trick Flow 235's. BTW could you tell me what pistons, rods, and crank you're using?
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 09:10 AM
  #3  
FlamingTA's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

If you look at just flow numbers the ls3 stuff looks very good, and they are. But if you are street driving it's still hard to beat the cathedral port heads. The smaller intake port volume can make for some very good port speed and can make the car just snappy when you roll into the throttle. For good numbers on a budget, some ported 243's by the big names are hard to beat. AI, WCCH, TEA, etc.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 10:11 AM
  #4  
02blackbeauty19's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Shreveport, Louisiana
Default

I'm in the same boat myself.

I read where guys say that the rectangular port stuff is the cat's pajamas. Others rave about the under the curve power that the cathedral port stuff puts out. I read something recently where someone said that the people who recommend the cathedral port heads are either selling them or have no experience with rectangular port heads. That statement does hold some water in my eyes...
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 10:53 AM
  #5  
FlamingTA's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by 02blackbeauty19
I'm in the same boat myself.

I read where guys say that the rectangular port stuff is the cat's pajamas. Others rave about the under the curve power that the cathedral port stuff puts out. I read something recently where someone said that the people who recommend the cathedral port heads are either selling them or have no experience with rectangular port heads. That statement does hold some water in my eyes...
Yes and no. The rectangular port heads do perform very good. But you still can not get around the facts. With a very large intake port volume you can have some super good flow on the top end of lift more potential HP. The better way of looking at flow numbers on a head is average flow. Add up the 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 650, 600, etc.

2 heads. One that flows 350cfm at 650 with 275cc intake port size. 2nd one that flows 330 at 650 with 225-230cc intake port size. 2nd head will probably flow about 10 or more cfm's more then head 1 from 100-400.
Most ppl looking at those will probably look just at the top end flow and pick head one. The racers will most likely pick head 2 because with the average numbers it would actually be faster.
Now these numbers make some assumptions and it's really up to the way you want to run your setup. It's also not like it's a win or lose decision, it's more of a good vs good. Just more along the lines of what would work better for your setup.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 12:26 PM
  #6  
02blackbeauty19's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Shreveport, Louisiana
Default

^ I see what you're saying.

How does each perform when boost is thrown in the mix?
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 12:26 PM
  #7  
trxman's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by cfn101788
Im in the same boat as you man. I was thinking LS3 heads or Trick Flow 235's. BTW could you tell me what pistons, rods, and crank you're using?
k1 4.000" crank and k1 stroker rods with arp 2000 bolts. pistons are going to be wiseco's either -2.8cc or -8cc...another decision i have to make. Ive read that the ls3 top likes alot of timing so I would need to keep the compression down. I can get ls3 bare castings for like 200 a piece and through stainless valves in em with a set of springs, retainers, and locks and mill them then get a stock ls3 intake. If I went with the ls2 heads I would probably have to get a nice FAST intake and TB and i think the price of that would be more then the ls3 set up.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 12:57 PM
  #8  
FlamingTA's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by 02blackbeauty19
^ I see what you're saying.

How does each perform when boost is thrown in the mix?
I have not run boost before so I'm not as sure on it. I know that boost makes heads not as big of a deal. With boost you will want a thick deck, TFS, AFR, All-pro, etc. The TFS 220 seems to be a good somewhat inexpensive choice for heads on boost.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 20, 2011 | 01:01 PM
  #9  
FlamingTA's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by trxman
k1 4.000" crank and k1 stroker rods with arp 2000 bolts. pistons are going to be wiseco's either -2.8cc or -8cc...another decision i have to make. Ive read that the ls3 top likes alot of timing so I would need to keep the compression down. I can get ls3 bare castings for like 200 a piece and through stainless valves in em with a set of springs, retainers, and locks and mill them then get a stock ls3 intake. If I went with the ls2 heads I would probably have to get a nice FAST intake and TB and i think the price of that would be more then the ls3 set up.
If you are going that route then it's best to spring for the hollow stem valves. The 2.16 stainless valves can get real heavy and you will have issues with valve control with alot of the modern lobes. Also, don't look solely on the head flow. Most ls3 heads are flowed on a 4.065 or 4.125" bore. You will have some pretty big valve shrouding with only a 4.005" bore.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:18 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE