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Hey guys, never really posted on here but I've been a member for a long while. Anyways I have a 2007 TBSS that developed the dreaded rod knock back in November. It was pretty disheartening as I absolutely love driving it around. Tossed around a few ideas here and there but finding a "cheap" shortblock just wasn't happening for me so I decided to just go all in with a build. After much research I decided on going with a 4" stroker/402ci engine. I wanted the extra cubes for the obvious extra power but also the extra torque since the TBSS is heavy. I drove myself nuts for weeks trying to decide which heads to go with, which cam etc. It came down porting my 243 heads from TEA, Frankenstein F110s and a set of heads from Tony Mamo. I ended up getting a hold of Tony and he took a lot of time to explain the what's and why's of everything and ultimate decided to go ahead and get a set of his MMS 235 heads.
Here's my complete build right now, it's a work in progress but the shortblock is done and just waiting on the top end and all the other good stuff. The engine will be going on the engine dyno once everything is finished, hoping for some good numbers. -2007 Chevy Trailblazer SS, 4400lbs -402ci LS2 11.8:1 -Callies Compstar crank 4.00" -Callies Compstar rods 6.125" -Wiseco -3cc forged pistons, GFX rings -ARP main studs -Mamo Motorsport 235cc CNC heads, Hollow 2.10 lightweight valves, titanium retainers, upgraded Manley Nextek springs, Mamo hand finish/CNC+ option, 66cc, aiming for .036 quench -Yella Terra 1.8 Ultralite Pro rockers with 10mm upgrade -Mamo ported FAST LSXrt manifold 102mm -Mamo ported 103mm throttle body -Manton 11/32 pushrods -Johnson ST2126LSR short travel lifters -Mamo custom cam 243/249@.050 .675/.675 lift on a 114+3 -Cloyes HD timing set -Melling ported HV pump. -ATI damper -C6 pan conversion as I'm converting to RWD -Built 4L80E with brake -Protorque converter(waiting to dyno engine before spec'ing)
I'll update this as parts start rolling in, heading to the engine shop tomorrow to take a look at the shortblock etc.
I'm very surprised Tony Mamo recommended the 235 heads over the 220 heads for YOUR application.
Why? Because he usually recommends the smaller runner in a heavier vehicle for throttle response etc.....
On the other hand I've seen Tony Mamo use AFR heads on a 407ci LS2 setup and make 618 horsepower at the crank with 24X single pattern duration cam.
Quite interesting.....
He actually recommended his 235s over the AFR 245s and a couple other heads I had asked about and pretty much all together eliminated any rectangle port head. Realistically 235 isn't that big considering TEA and AI ported 243 heads are 228-230cc. I'm hoping to hit close to 630hp on the engine dyno.
He actually recommended his 235s over the AFR 245s and a couple other heads I had asked about and pretty much all together eliminated any rectangle port head. Realistically 235 isn't that big considering TEA and AI ported 243 heads are 228-230cc. I'm hoping to hit close to 630hp on the engine dyno.
I can see that happening. As I mentioned above I've seen Tony Mamo make 618hp with a single pattern 242 duration cam and 215 AFR heads on 11.5 compression out of the 407ci motor.
Tony doesn’t give a rip if we post his cam specs, just don’t give up his lobes. Most folks talk cam specs and compare cams only on specs alone, ignorant to the fact that two identical cams ground on two different lobe families will react and run different. The secret sauce is in the lobes.
My son jokes with me occasionally about my Mamo tee shirts in my closet. I spent north of $14k with Tony on my 434 build and he asks me from time to time which shirts I have cost the most...pretty expensive tee shirts he says...
Tony doesn’t give a rip if we post his cam specs, just don’t give up his lobes. Most folks talk cam specs and compare cams only on specs alone, ignorant to the fact that two identical cams ground on two different lobe families will react and run different. The secret sauce is in the lobes.
My son jokes with me occasionally about my Mamo tee shirts in my closet. I spent north of $14k with Tony on my 434 build and he asks me from time to time which shirts I have cost the most...pretty expensive tee shirts he says...
Haha it definitely isn't cheap, my gf rolls her eyes every time I talk about the new engine. The results he gets speaks for itself though which is one of the reasons why I went with him. That and he actually took the time to "sit down" and go over everything with me, which I can say quite a few places did not.
Nothing spectacular but I got to go check out the shortblock yesterday now that it's complete. I hope she runs as good as she looks. I did have them open up the rings a couple thousanths so I can hit it with the sauce down the line as well.
This is an interesting build. I have a TBSS 2wd also and am doing build now. I built the shortblock a while ago, just a LS2 .005 w/ Eagle rods and Racetec pistons, new stock crank. I have looked at tons of heads, all types-cath, LS3, LS7. I keep seeing the 11degree LS3's, stock/fixed/ported oem LS7's and the serious cathedrals make the #'s, both on the dyno and on the street. Will be interesting to see how ths pans out. I think a Mast 11degree LS3 will do better, espeically w/ new Fast LSXRT LS3 intake out. This is the direction I am going.
A side note, i have heard the new Brodix BR1 cathedrals are killers, also have no idea what the csa is, but has to be close to the Mamo 235's(dont go by the volume, the csa is more critical-paging Corona). They are flowing easy 370cfm w/ a 2.100 valve.
Would be nice if ER would comment on this, as well.
Last edited by DualQuadDave; Mar 9, 2021 at 09:11 PM.
This is an interesting build. I have a TBSS 2wd also and am doing build now. I built the shortblock a while ago, just a LS2 .005 w/ Eagle rods and Racetec pistons, new stock crank. I have looked at tons of heads, all types-cath, LS3, LS7. I keep seeing the 11degree LS3's, stock/fixed/ported oem LS7's and the serious cathedrals make the #'s, both on the dyno and on the street. Will be interesting to see how ths pans out. I think a Mast 11degree LS3 will do better, espeically w/ new Fast LSXRT LS3 intake out. This is the direction I am going.
A side note, i have heard the new Brodix BR1 cathedrals are killers, also have no idea what the csa is, but has to be close to the Mamo 235's(dont go by the volume, the csa is more critical-paging Corona). They are flowing easy 370cfm w/ a 2.100 valve.
Would be nice if ER would comment on this, as well.
I think the other heads you mentioned might make more power up top but this is going to be 90% street 10% race as the local tracks are all about a hour and a half away. No trailer so drive there and drive home as well so I didn't want to have something to peaky or having to lose a lot of that low end. I'm happy with the choice I made even if it left some on the table or not.
I agree, it'll run good. It's all a matter of how much do you want to turn it up. For me, i like having the capacity to Bump it up a notch or two without having to sell it all and start again. Although, these days, if the intake is supportive, you can always send the heads out again and have a bigger program/valves put in and go that route. Either way, looking forward to results.
Imo Mamo heads compared to off the shelf Brodix heads are apples to oranges. Tony's attention to detail is second to none, lay a straight edge across a set of Mamo heads(across the valve stems) and do the same with off the shelf Brodix heads. Tony's will be perfect not so with the Brodix. Makes a huge difference setting up limited travel lifters. Obviously the Brodix have mucho potential but it'll take someone good to make them as good as they can be. When you buy from Tony they will be perfect.
Imo Mamo heads compared to off the shelf Brodix heads are apples to oranges. Tony's attention to detail is second to none, lay a straight edge across a set of Mamo heads(across the valve stems) and do the same with off the shelf Brodix heads. Tony's will be perfect not so with the Brodix. Makes a huge difference setting up limited travel lifters. Obviously the Brodix have mucho potential but it'll take someone good to make them as good as they can be. When you buy from Tony they will be perfect.
Tony does great work, that is well known. Maybe I didn't complete my thought, but the comparison is as apples to apples as you can get. We are talking about a cnc cathedral head w/ a 2.100 valve vs another of the same. I am not recommending for anyone to buy a set of OTB Brodix heads and call it done. The way to run those is buy them bare and assemble yourself. The only unknown is the csa of the Brodix, but I will call them this week and get some more info. Greg Good is my go to head guy. His prep is probably best in the business. He has done a 400cfm cathedral head, on PRC casting, too which I have never seen that anywhere else, not even All Pro. Was not overly big either, IIRR. He designed some of the ports for CID for their LS7 heads, as well. I think he holds the current record for cfm vs csa in the LS7 category.
Last edited by DualQuadDave; Mar 13, 2021 at 01:28 PM.
Funny thing is None of them list the CSA but rather CC..
Sales trickery as you may very well know different architecture may have a different runner length.
If the CSA is listed We Could All Figure out what heads R Needed without calling With a million BS questions.
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TBSS 402 LS2 build 
