which ones do you prefer?
why do you prefer them?
What engine, drivetrain combo do you have?
what intake are you running, stock, sheetmetal, carb?
What made you choose one over the other?
Are they stock or ported more?

 

AFR and others have a known good product. At the same time, we offer a higher level of fit and finish, as well as a system oriented approach which tends to translate into exceptional results for our customers.

Our 215's have the potential to make big power NA if we have control over the entire top-end, and you have a professional builder who can get the shortblock and assembly details right. Depending on your goals, we may lean toward our small chamber version of our 215's that is based on the 21deg casting.

 

Afr has some real good results as well and im sure others will chime in on here and show proof of what they run. Also their a are a few peeps on here who also run the AI tfs heads with solid gains.

Whats the difference between the small chamber tfs heads and ? I only thought there was 1 set of tfs 215 heads?

 

Maybe the ported 21 degree heads end up at 215?

 

Need all the details of your combo to give a good answer...

 

I wonder what ever happened to AFR's 215cc raised runner heads. They used to be the best head a while ago. Problem was most people had to use sheet metal intakes to use them. I remember Jimlabs 396 that made almost 650 hp with them.

 

Im asking what you guys have, not me. But lets say I had a engine...lets say its a

385 forged stroker, 242/250 cam full bolt ons. heads?
th400, 4.10 gear 28" tires stock type intake either lt1 or lt4 depending on heads.
nitrous 200+ shot
lets say atleast 6800 shift points

hows that for a determination on head factor

 

I can tell you something close to this dyno's 422rwhp on a Dyno Dynamics unit N/A with a tad bigger cam, AI LT4 heads and a 5k RPM loose stall. I've heard from many folks that the DD unit reads 25-45rwhp "low" as compared to Dyno Jet. I haven't run it yet at the track, but on the street, it's an e-ticket ride. As fast as my 550rwhp ZO6.

 

why would you pick your cam before your heads?

Im sure both those heads work great. TF heads are great out the box and the a great company like AI goes a step further and ports them and flow benches them and make them even better.

Then you have AI heads all i can say is a work of art. the porting and diffrent sizes you can get these heads in are a bit more than the trickflow. But these heads perform very well and thats why alot of guy out there use these on there competion cars.

 

 

No he didnt pick a cam or anything. ALL he did was give a example. He is asking LS1TECH WHAT THEY HAVE?

 

I thought the same exact thing...

Here we have head number 1 which is nice and really good when worked over by Brand X.

Ont the other hand we have head number 1 which is really a nice work of art.


??????????????

 

I think he meant to say 'Then you have AFR heads...'

 

Of the options you listed I would give the advantage to AI TFS heads over out of the box AFRs. Let them spec you a cam for your goals, follow their valvetrain suggestions, and let her rip. Like stated, AFRs are killer heads but AI can provide you with a full valvetrain solution for some proven performance.

If your build is more extreme then the average street LT1 though, then I would choose ported AFRs over anything else 23*s(maybe not starting with the 210s, but they will do for 99% of people). Downside to that route is that you have to do your research and choose the rest of your build which may or may not work out as you plan.

 

Definitely go with the AI 215's, I have them on my 383 and with the right cam they are insane.

Randy

 

I'm strange...I say hogged AFR's with a solid roller and then DD the darn thing...that's just me though, I don't mind doing lash adj. every oil change....

I should have been born in the 50's so I would have been old enough to hot rod in the 70's...

bummer

 

Idk I think the afr 210s will kick the **** out of the ai 215s, especially if they are ported! But then again there arent that many people with the afrs for some reason?

 

I'd have to say the money side....darn things are expensive but they sure do work....

FWIW I'd rather have the new 235's in LTx format....

again, just me though

 

AFR told me they don't make the 235's for the LT1

 

If they are ported? Hell yes. The OP didn't specify though - I'm assuming he meant out of the box since porting on top of the castings is a lot more cash then the AI TFS heads and would not be an even comparison - plus most builds will not need that much head. AI TFS packages are a great deal when looking for a proven performing group of parts and not picking different parts of the car individually.

You can have them converted for a relatively small fee. AFR 235s are one of the baddest 23* smallblock heads on the planet. We are talking over 340cfms...the "big boy" forums(the ones with more racers then ricers) love 'em .

They are huge though, so you better cam them right to see much benefit over other heads...they would be a waste on of these baby 24x hyd roller cams with .6" lift.