New heads?
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Joined: Jul 2015
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New heads? Hello all! I'm new as far as posting here on LS1Tech, though I have browsed the forums on and off over the years. I do a bit more over at LS2GTO.com, though.
Anyway, I have very recently reentered the LS family, buying my second GTO. I had a '04 years ago, and just purchased an '05.
I have a short list of projects over time I'd like to complete, first and foremost being brakes (CTS-V2, in fact).
The vehicle already puts down... copious amounts of power thanks to, among other things, an overdriven 122HH Maggie with ECS heavy duty tensioner and full 8 rib setup. Heads, among other things, were left untouched though.
He did do catch can, 228R cam with 114 lobe separation, clutch (stage 3) and flywheel, aluminum driveshaft, Gforce 1320 half shafts and differential cover, and the basic boltons of intake/header/exhaust. Also, suspensions/wheels/tires have been done.
I am curious as to, given the current setup, what route would be best for this setup as far as heads. I'm not chasing any number on the dyno.
I personally have never gone diving into the internals before, so all of the help I can get would be a huge help as I learn.
Thanks all!
Anyway, I have very recently reentered the LS family, buying my second GTO. I had a '04 years ago, and just purchased an '05.
I have a short list of projects over time I'd like to complete, first and foremost being brakes (CTS-V2, in fact).
The vehicle already puts down... copious amounts of power thanks to, among other things, an overdriven 122HH Maggie with ECS heavy duty tensioner and full 8 rib setup. Heads, among other things, were left untouched though.
He did do catch can, 228R cam with 114 lobe separation, clutch (stage 3) and flywheel, aluminum driveshaft, Gforce 1320 half shafts and differential cover, and the basic boltons of intake/header/exhaust. Also, suspensions/wheels/tires have been done.
I am curious as to, given the current setup, what route would be best for this setup as far as heads. I'm not chasing any number on the dyno.
I personally have never gone diving into the internals before, so all of the help I can get would be a huge help as I learn.
Thanks all!
Last edited by ChiefyGTO; Jul 29, 2015 at 11:18 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
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From: Portland, Oregon
Do the heads NEED to be replaced? Why do you want new heads
But an excellent place to start, and end, when purchasing new heads is trick flow. Can't go wrong with their 205's, or their 225's for that matter.
Personally, without an actual goal in mind, you're probably better off having the heads you have ported, as well as porting the blower you already have.
Have a custom grind cam made after you get everything ported, and just enjoy it for a while until you know exactly what needs changed and exactly what you want to do with it.
But an excellent place to start, and end, when purchasing new heads is trick flow. Can't go wrong with their 205's, or their 225's for that matter.
Personally, without an actual goal in mind, you're probably better off having the heads you have ported, as well as porting the blower you already have.
Have a custom grind cam made after you get everything ported, and just enjoy it for a while until you know exactly what needs changed and exactly what you want to do with it.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2015
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They don't need to be replaced, I am just looking for a steady improvement in the power department. Like I said, not chasing numbers, but I do have the mod bug.
If not the heads, where would you guys suggest starting? A nice, strong torque curve is what I'm looking for. I've been told that, having a supercharger, the cam I have is a good one.
If not the heads, where would you guys suggest starting? A nice, strong torque curve is what I'm looking for. I've been told that, having a supercharger, the cam I have is a good one.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,189
Likes: 123
From: Portland, Oregon
The Heaton M122HH is the intercooled model, correct
Porting your heads alone will lower boost without changing pulleys, and give you power across the board.
Porting your blower alone will decrease heat/iat's, increase boost without changing pulleys, and give you power across the board.
Porting your heads AND blower will decrease heat and give you substantial power across the board, with the same boost you have now without changing pulleys.
If you're worried about heat, add a heat exchanger between the reservoir and the blower... Giving you two heat exchangers, one before and one after the supercharger.
No sense in overcomplicating it. What you already have will get you where you want to be. Just spend some money optimizing what you have. And after you get everything ported, get a custom cam just for your set-up, and a really good dyno tune.
Porting your heads alone will lower boost without changing pulleys, and give you power across the board.
Porting your blower alone will decrease heat/iat's, increase boost without changing pulleys, and give you power across the board.
Porting your heads AND blower will decrease heat and give you substantial power across the board, with the same boost you have now without changing pulleys.
If you're worried about heat, add a heat exchanger between the reservoir and the blower... Giving you two heat exchangers, one before and one after the supercharger.
No sense in overcomplicating it. What you already have will get you where you want to be. Just spend some money optimizing what you have. And after you get everything ported, get a custom cam just for your set-up, and a really good dyno tune.
