Head Performance
There are some interesting options in the GM Perf Parts catalog, like CNC ported LS7 heads...
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If money is a concern then you can't beat the L92 heads for bang for the buck. If money is not a deciding factor then IMO the ETP LS7 heads with a LS7 intake is the cream of the crop (so to speak).
FWIW The factory LS7 intake is by far the best composite intake available, however, to keep up with a 454 ci motor, you may need some more...... Adjust cost accordingly.
What would this motor be going in? What do you want out of it? How much money do you want to spend?
I honestly believe we have just seen the tip of the iceberg on these heads. (both of them)
I honestly believe we have just seen the tip of the iceberg on these heads. (both of them)
Do you mean not enough physical aluminum to do a good port?
And do you think we have seen the end of the cathedral ports in favor of the square ports?
Do you mean not enough physical aluminum to do a good port?
And do you think we have seen the end of the cathedral ports in favor of the square ports?
The better the head, the less the flow numbers matter for overall performance. There are guys that have SB2 heads they claim flow 450+CFM. If they flow that much, good for them. The heads on the car leading the most laps at Phoenix on saturday don't flow anywhere near 450, but they are as big volume-wise as the 450 CFM heads. The fast running heads have proper geometry with a properly shaped flow curve. What I mean by properly shaped flow curve isn't internet info, but I can say the flow curve will look a certain way when the port geometry is right; along with the valvejob. If it could be explained on the internet in it's entirety anyone could do race-winning heads.
I have seen two identical heads (CNC program) make quite different power because of the valvejob only. The heads that make more power would appear completely inferior to most people because they don't have a "lot of area under the curve".
Extremely poor heads like a pontiac need raw flow numbers because the port and chamber are so horrendous they will never have enough intertia to make power. I think it takes a good guy to make a head like that run.
Pro Stock on the extreme opposite side, will be almost entirely geometry specific to making power. There are things on these heads guys do that hurt flow tremendously that picks up a bunch of power. If a Pro Stock engine builder bought heads the way most people do on the internet they would never qualify, I guarantee it.
As far as the last question. Within the next couple of years, I believe GM will quit producing the cathedral port heads for performance applications. Hell, after this year even, if the LS3 is what I think it is...




