heads/cam for LS3
Definitely cam, you don't want to do heads and keep the stock cam...especially with how well the LS3 heads already flow.
Keep those, maybe get them ported, and get a matching cam. If you keep the compression up and cam relatively small, it should not affect your mileage too much if at all.
For me, heads and a small cam only lost 1-2mpg in town and on the highway it's about the same.
Keep those, maybe get them ported, and get a matching cam. If you keep the compression up and cam relatively small, it should not affect your mileage too much if at all.
For me, heads and a small cam only lost 1-2mpg in town and on the highway it's about the same.
If you are going to stay with the stock 376 cubes, don't even break the seal on the head gaskets. Unless you are going to buy some aftermarket castings with the 260cc runners or smaller, I don't think you will see enough difference to make it worth your time. The TFS or mast heads would be a good move, if you just have to have new heads and they could be worth 20-30HP over your stockers. Most of the factory head CNCs ive seen don't show an improvement in flow till you get north of a 650 lift and have seen cars loose power with a 600 lift cam and the GMPP ported LS3 heads because they don't show any improvement in flow till after 650 !
A cam swap, on the other hand, can give you some serious gains ! Just be careful not to over cam it. Make sure the rest of the drive train is matched to the cams working RPM range and you will be very happy.
A cam swap, on the other hand, can give you some serious gains ! Just be careful not to over cam it. Make sure the rest of the drive train is matched to the cams working RPM range and you will be very happy.
