View Poll Results: which heads? converted GM 18* heads? or AI's TFS 215cc LT1 heads?
converted to LT1 style GM 18* heads.
10
30.30%
AI's TFS 215cc LT1 heads.
23
69.70%
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll
slightly touched up converted to LT1 style GM 18* heads or AI's 215cc TFS heads?
#1
slightly touched up converted to LT1 style GM 18* heads or AI's 215cc TFS heads?
which heads will give me the best power NA from low end to top end RPM?
i will soon buy a 1996 caprice impala SS and wanted to do a 396ci LT1 i want a good set of cylinder heads that are able to to stay in bar with the LS1 heads, so i thought a converted GM 18* heads would do that since they will accept stock headers and even may still accept stock style 23* pistons and will make very good power.
i know that MindGame did a converted and modified GM 15* heads with modified LT4 intake manifold in a solid roller 383ci LT1 as i can remember in his LT1 camaro, it did 540 rwhp and did 9's@~140 mph as i can remember.
the GM 15* heads by the way are actualy made of the GM 18* heads that the GM 18* heads had its valve guide roller 1 degree and angle mill these heads 2 degrees to get the GM 15* heads.
so what would you say do i go with a converted GM 18* heads and modified LT4 intake manifold or AI's TFS 215cc LT1 heads with AI's street/strip LT1 intake manifold?
i will soon buy a 1996 caprice impala SS and wanted to do a 396ci LT1 i want a good set of cylinder heads that are able to to stay in bar with the LS1 heads, so i thought a converted GM 18* heads would do that since they will accept stock headers and even may still accept stock style 23* pistons and will make very good power.
i know that MindGame did a converted and modified GM 15* heads with modified LT4 intake manifold in a solid roller 383ci LT1 as i can remember in his LT1 camaro, it did 540 rwhp and did 9's@~140 mph as i can remember.
the GM 15* heads by the way are actualy made of the GM 18* heads that the GM 18* heads had its valve guide roller 1 degree and angle mill these heads 2 degrees to get the GM 15* heads.
so what would you say do i go with a converted GM 18* heads and modified LT4 intake manifold or AI's TFS 215cc LT1 heads with AI's street/strip LT1 intake manifold?
#2
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o_0 What the hell are you planning on making? 750hp? Because, I don't think your average H/C motor is going to merit the need of either of those heads. A nice LE3 H/C/I combo will put down around 450 I'd think.
Here's a better idea, take the money it'd cost you to convert heads, and just run a supercharger. One guy was running a fully stock LT1 (cai, except headers and catback) and put down 423rwhp. With ported heads, a nice blower cam, and all the other mods you'll make plenty of HP to walk LS1s. But keep in mind, you're going to be in a heavier car than F/Y bodies.
Here's a better idea, take the money it'd cost you to convert heads, and just run a supercharger. One guy was running a fully stock LT1 (cai, except headers and catback) and put down 423rwhp. With ported heads, a nice blower cam, and all the other mods you'll make plenty of HP to walk LS1s. But keep in mind, you're going to be in a heavier car than F/Y bodies.
#4
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If I remember you have to have headers fabbed for those heads, along with:
specific rocker arms(shaft)
specific pistons.
The engine mindgame built had an old school set of gm heads on it and made BIG power through a stick on pumpgas.
A Le "package" aint gonna put down 450rw through an auto.
The REAL power to be made is in headflow, PERIOD. A set of 18* heads will make more AVERAGE power than a set of 23* heads any day all day.
I wish I would have popped for a set now looking back. I would say I could make another 100 hp at the flywheel with a set of GM 18* heads on my 383. That would put me close to 700 on pumpgas.......with that said....
Build 408 LS1 make the same power with a hydraulic roller and lower compression with proven setups.
A buddy makes 525rwhp through a 4L80e and a 12 bolt with a 408 LS1 on pumpgas and a hydralic roller cam and AFR heads. Runs 10.50's on motor weighing 3900 lbs.
specific rocker arms(shaft)
specific pistons.
The engine mindgame built had an old school set of gm heads on it and made BIG power through a stick on pumpgas.
A Le "package" aint gonna put down 450rw through an auto.
The REAL power to be made is in headflow, PERIOD. A set of 18* heads will make more AVERAGE power than a set of 23* heads any day all day.
I wish I would have popped for a set now looking back. I would say I could make another 100 hp at the flywheel with a set of GM 18* heads on my 383. That would put me close to 700 on pumpgas.......with that said....
Build 408 LS1 make the same power with a hydraulic roller and lower compression with proven setups.
A buddy makes 525rwhp through a 4L80e and a 12 bolt with a 408 LS1 on pumpgas and a hydralic roller cam and AFR heads. Runs 10.50's on motor weighing 3900 lbs.
#6
o_0 What the hell are you planning on making? 750hp? Because, I don't think your average H/C motor is going to merit the need of either of those heads. A nice LE3 H/C/I combo will put down around 450 I'd think.
Here's a better idea, take the money it'd cost you to convert heads, and just run a supercharger. One guy was running a fully stock LT1 (cai, except headers and catback) and put down 423rwhp. With ported heads, a nice blower cam, and all the other mods you'll make plenty of HP to walk LS1s. But keep in mind, you're going to be in a heavier car than F/Y bodies.
Here's a better idea, take the money it'd cost you to convert heads, and just run a supercharger. One guy was running a fully stock LT1 (cai, except headers and catback) and put down 423rwhp. With ported heads, a nice blower cam, and all the other mods you'll make plenty of HP to walk LS1s. But keep in mind, you're going to be in a heavier car than F/Y bodies.
#7
If I remember you have to have headers fabbed for those heads, along with:
specific rocker arms(shaft)
specific pistons.
The engine mindgame built had an old school set of gm heads on it and made BIG power through a stick on pumpgas.
A Le "package" aint gonna put down 450rw through an auto.
The REAL power to be made is in headflow, PERIOD. A set of 18* heads will make more AVERAGE power than a set of 23* heads any day all day.
I wish I would have popped for a set now looking back. I would say I could make another 100 hp at the flywheel with a set of GM 18* heads on my 383. That would put me close to 700 on pumpgas.......with that said....
Build 408 LS1 make the same power with a hydraulic roller and lower compression with proven setups.
A buddy makes 525rwhp through a 4L80e and a 12 bolt with a 408 LS1 on pumpgas and a hydralic roller cam and AFR heads. Runs 10.50's on motor weighing 3900 lbs.
specific rocker arms(shaft)
specific pistons.
The engine mindgame built had an old school set of gm heads on it and made BIG power through a stick on pumpgas.
A Le "package" aint gonna put down 450rw through an auto.
The REAL power to be made is in headflow, PERIOD. A set of 18* heads will make more AVERAGE power than a set of 23* heads any day all day.
I wish I would have popped for a set now looking back. I would say I could make another 100 hp at the flywheel with a set of GM 18* heads on my 383. That would put me close to 700 on pumpgas.......with that said....
Build 408 LS1 make the same power with a hydraulic roller and lower compression with proven setups.
A buddy makes 525rwhp through a 4L80e and a 12 bolt with a 408 LS1 on pumpgas and a hydralic roller cam and AFR heads. Runs 10.50's on motor weighing 3900 lbs.
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#9
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If you have any kind of budget then go with 23* stuff and a power adder of some sort to make that power. If not then go 18*. It's all a matter of money really. Build the best motor you can for the money you want/able to spend.
#11
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Are you talking about solid roller and spinning it to 7000? I'm not sure what the OP's plans are but most people don't want that from a driver, a race car sure. Of course then you get into the debate on what streetable is, lol.
#14
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There are 10 and 11 degree heads out there now.
Lower angle heads will ALWAYS make more average power than a higher angle head, thats really a no brainer. Look at an LS1, 346 inches and makes 75 hp more than a 23* headed LT1. Stock LS1 heads flow stock what a midline ported LT1 heads flows.
Port velocity and head flow almost always go hand in hand. Most old school rules are WAY out the window with the advent of EFI.
ANYTIME you roll the head over and make the shot in the hole straighter the air flows easier and makes more power.
Last edited by FASTFATBOY; 09-28-2008 at 01:00 PM.
#17
I am running the Ai tfs 215 on a 383. The track I run on is not that good and the corrected DA is in close to 1500ft. most of the time and I still have ran 10.6x with a high 1.4 60' and have ran 128.7 mph. I think that for the money the TFS head would do what you want with no trouble.
#19
I am running the Ai tfs 215 on a 383. The track I run on is not that good and the corrected DA is in close to 1500ft. most of the time and I still have ran 10.6x with a high 1.4 60' and have ran 128.7 mph. I think that for the money the TFS head would do what you want with no trouble.
#20
i will keep the GM 18* intake/exhaust ports size to the minimum and focus on optimized port shape for higher port velocity with adequate flow numbers with matched custom hydraulic cam. i will use an edelbrock LT4 intake manifold since the GM LT4 intake manifold is discontinued. the edelbrock LT4 intake manifold will be ported and modified to work with the converted GM 18* heads. the engine will be a 396ci LT1 with a 11:1 compression.
also i was told the stock headers will work with the GM 18* heads.
i don't have any pics/vids yet since i didn't buy the GM 18* heads/edelbrock LT4 intake manifold yet but i will in the future.