LS3 head swap worth it?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 153
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LS3 head swap worth it? My GTO has a ls2 that is stock minus headers/exhaust and CAI. I'm really not planning on going crazy with the car. Maybe 450ish rwhp when I'm done. Not to beat the dead horse, but what is your input on doing this swap? I may attempt to trade my old wheels to offset the cost.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 153
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I've researched it a bit. I know you need the intake manifold, rails, injectors, etc. I'm just curious. I've heard of low end torque loss. To do this full swap is what it would cost for some decent cathedral port heads. Then I'd have to buy a Fast which isn't exactly cheap.
I thought the hole premise of going with a ls3 top end WAS the cost? For $1200 I got a set of new gmpp ported ls3 heads. The ls3 intake flows the same as a $900 fast. My ls3 Intake came with the rails and injectors for $275(New take off). I got more than that for my very old ls1 intake rails inj and TB. I saved a ton of money, even made some and OMG this setup hauls ***. This thing of mine is insane. Hit the gas and all I see is 7100rpm.
Bad low end you say. What low end? I cant find it. Wish I could.
Bad low end you say. What low end? I cant find it. Wish I could.
Last edited by handyandy496; Mar 1, 2015 at 09:31 PM.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 8
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From: Michigan
I thought the hole premise of going with a ls3 top end WAS the cost? For $1200 I got a set of new gmpp ported ls3 heads. The ls3 intake flows the same as a $900 fast. My ls3 Intake came with the rails and injectors for $275(New take off). I got more than that for my very old ls1 intake rails inj and TB. I saved a ton of money, even made some and OMG this setup hauls ***. This thing of mine is insane. Hit the gas and all I see is 7100rpm.
Bad low end you say. What low end? I cant find it. Wish I could.
Bad low end you say. What low end? I cant find it. Wish I could.
He can sell what he has and get a LS3 intake + Plus heads and rockers for around 1500+
or He can just port his heads and get a LS6 intake for around 1500.
Either way you will need a custom cam spec'ed to your set-up
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 8
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From: Michigan
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On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2015
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I'll probably end up going with the LS3 end. Selling the 243 stuff isn't bad. I've lurked and seen it go pretty fast in the for sale section. I need to find someone who wants to trade the wheels haha. I'm curious if it'll do anything to my exhaust sound. I love my spintech sound.
Think about it. If you port heads and intake and it only gets you to what the LS3 topend does stock, what do you do next..... Now you have the option to port the LS3 stuff later on.
We are never going to say "thats enough". If you do your lying to yourself LOL
For the same $$ Go with the LS3 heads and intake.
My setup is a LQ9 with Stock L92's (same as Ls3's with heavier valves). I have a Cam, 90MM TB and headers. and behind a Th350 put down 448/396 on pump gas.
We are never going to say "thats enough". If you do your lying to yourself LOL
For the same $$ Go with the LS3 heads and intake.
My setup is a LQ9 with Stock L92's (same as Ls3's with heavier valves). I have a Cam, 90MM TB and headers. and behind a Th350 put down 448/396 on pump gas.
The LS3 heads route for sure you don't loose power anywhere you actually gain big torque from the bottom and all the parts are inexpensive and do include a cam you'll be in the 450 whp range the easy way with the correct parts selection.
I went from 423/392. To 461/423 when I put on stock ls3 heads and intake over my stock ls2 heads and lightly ported ls2 intake. Other mods that were on the car before the top end swap was a torquer 2 cam. Ps longtubes. Vararam cai. And monster level 4 clutch. On the bottle I went from 551 to 620 rwhp. Def. Worth it.
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 390
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From: The Burnie, MD
Here's my torque-less wonder 
Stock 60K mile LS2 bottom end
Stock LS3 heads/intake/rails
Small-ish 222/230 EPS cam
Custom CAI and LT's
Powerbond 20% pulley
Lightweight twin clutch
Throttle response is ridiculous at any RPM...
When I got my LS3 heads they were only $300 a pop. I sold my 243's with dual springs for $550 so it was a no-brainer. Now that they are $500/ea, I'd look into the CNC ones.
Stock 60K mile LS2 bottom end
Stock LS3 heads/intake/rails
Small-ish 222/230 EPS cam
Custom CAI and LT's
Powerbond 20% pulley
Lightweight twin clutch
Throttle response is ridiculous at any RPM...
When I got my LS3 heads they were only $300 a pop. I sold my 243's with dual springs for $550 so it was a no-brainer. Now that they are $500/ea, I'd look into the CNC ones.
Last edited by MX6.0; Apr 1, 2015 at 09:23 AM.
My GTO has a ls2 that is stock minus headers/exhaust and CAI. I'm really not planning on going crazy with the car. Maybe 450ish rwhp when I'm done. Not to beat the dead horse, but what is your input on doing this swap? I may attempt to trade my old wheels to offset the cost.
This has our smallest camshaft in it and the drive-ability(the main goal) is fantastic. I did this with the intention of doing some sort of a blower. That is why the large runner heads and 1-7/8" headers.
It would make another 15-25WHP with our 2C camshaft.
If your goals are around 450 RWHP a Livernois ported cathederal heads with one of our camshafts will do that with little trouble.
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Power mods for blown LS2 Hi guys, I just joined the forum. I own a 2006 torrid red GTO, M6. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, I bought my car in July 2012 and the original owner already put a Magnusen MP112 on my car. So mine now has the blower, stock heads, stock cam (I think) I put OBX headers and high flow cats on, SLP loudmouth cat back, skip ****, I put a hurst comp plus shifter in, and it makes about 510 RWHP.
I'm looking to see how much more power I can get out of it. I put a new GMPP clutch in at 100k miles and the motor will smoke that clutch without even trying.
Any suggestions for going to 650-700 RWHP? Am I looking at a new rear for that kind of power too?
I'm looking to see how much more power I can get out of it. I put a new GMPP clutch in at 100k miles and the motor will smoke that clutch without even trying.
Any suggestions for going to 650-700 RWHP? Am I looking at a new rear for that kind of power too?
Hi guys, I just joined the forum. I own a 2006 torrid red GTO, M6. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, I bought my car in July 2012 and the original owner already put a Magnusen MP112 on my car. So mine now has the blower, stock heads, stock cam (I think) I put OBX headers and high flow cats on, SLP loudmouth cat back, skip ****, I put a hurst comp plus shifter in, and it makes about 510 RWHP.
I'm looking to see how much more power I can get out of it. I put a new GMPP clutch in at 100k miles and the motor will smoke that clutch without even trying.
Any suggestions for going to 650-700 RWHP? Am I looking at a new rear for that kind of power too?
I'm looking to see how much more power I can get out of it. I put a new GMPP clutch in at 100k miles and the motor will smoke that clutch without even trying.
Any suggestions for going to 650-700 RWHP? Am I looking at a new rear for that kind of power too?
I'm in the same boat. As i piece my 402 parts pile together I keep revolving around what to do with the heads. I think Ill put the 243's on the ls1 short block I have on a stand and run ls3 heads. I really have been scratching my head for a while about what porting program to go with, this just made my mind up.
Teching In
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LS2 To LS3 top end in 2004 Tahoe 2004 Tahoe with a LQ9 6.0 Liter and a 4L80e Trans go stage II with 12 bolt diff with 456 rear gear, DJM Suspension, lowered 9 inches, Spaun cromolly 4 link and spaun pan hard bar in the back.
The car was sitting in the garage for about 8 months due to a blown head gasket, well long story short, I did the LS3 Head swap, bought a set of Pro header LS3 aftermarket heads all put together for 899.00 off ebay, also found an LS3 intake with fuel rails and injectors used off ebay, LS7 Cam new from Summit racing with Comp Cams 1.8 rockers, Holly Tall black valve covers.
upgraded to the LS6 valley cover, had to upgrade to the ls2 late model timing cover with cam sensor in front of the motor. the car was pretty nice with the stock 6.0 liter in it, but, DAMN, its a whole new beast with the LS3 topend.
The car was sitting in the garage for about 8 months due to a blown head gasket, well long story short, I did the LS3 Head swap, bought a set of Pro header LS3 aftermarket heads all put together for 899.00 off ebay, also found an LS3 intake with fuel rails and injectors used off ebay, LS7 Cam new from Summit racing with Comp Cams 1.8 rockers, Holly Tall black valve covers.
upgraded to the LS6 valley cover, had to upgrade to the ls2 late model timing cover with cam sensor in front of the motor. the car was pretty nice with the stock 6.0 liter in it, but, DAMN, its a whole new beast with the LS3 topend.
