Hey guys
Scroogindicky has the GM perf parts LS6 heads that are CNC ported for under a grand each. This seems like a great deal because the orignial LS1 heads can be sold to offset the costs of the new heads. They claim the heads flow 290CFM at .500" lift. The question is are these heads overkill for a street engine that will be reving less than 6500 RPM. What do you think

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=1979&pid=8174

 

Well the actual price is $985 per head so you need a pair really costing $1970. The last line on the link says "Price is for each cylinder head." Not as great of a deal as they play it out to be. Gaskets and a matched cam are gonna cost you another $300 to $500. Plus they dont specify if they have a 3 or 5 angle valve job. Or it must just be a casting clean up with the heads milled for some more compression. Just cause it says CNC machining doesn't mean its done in the highest quality. I suggest that if your interested in heads for your car never go cheap cause they are what make or break performance build up. And just for a comparison Pace Parts sells a similar set up but with an entire kit including gaskets, cam, LS6 intake(for 97-01 LS1s), and misc parts for $1738(without intake) or $2287(with intake). Plus these heads boast a 3 angle valve job with a higher spec maximum lift of .570 and a static compression of 11.2:1. So in conclusion if it sounds too good it probably is.

 

Well, if you wanted LS6 / Z06 heads, you can pick up a set from www.gmpartsdirect.com for $1106. They come bare, but with an LS6 cam, valves and valve springs (assuming you can reuse the other parts)...you can convert your LS1 internals to LS6 for about $2K. Some part numbers to keep in mind incase you check out the www.gmpartsdirect.com website:

LS6 Head..............12564825.....$553 each (x 2)
Intake valve..........12565311.....$37 each (x 8)
Exhaust valve........12565312.....$37 each (x 8)
LS6 valve spring.....12565313.....$5 each (x 16)
LS6 camshaft.........12565308.....$185 each (x 1)

 

those heads are supposed to be the poo.

they are fully CNC ported. it says so right in the description.

the main problem with these is valve to piston clearance. milling them as muxh as they do it can be tight, especialy with a big cam.

and as far as cost for a cam and gaskets go that isnt gonna change no matter what heads you go with...

 

The LS6 head has alot of potential. Whether this is a good deal or not just depends on your goals.
If I were looking to put together an 11 second daily driver LS1 then I'd send the stock heads out for a professional port job and save $800+ in the process.
Then again, you'll have to crunch the numbers. If you need new valves, locks, retainers, the whole 9, on top of the port work..... well the cost difference might be minimal.

-Mindgame

 

We just had a set of these heads flowed earlier this evening. I will have some numbers to post up a little later if anyone is interested.
For what it's worth, we have a set of these heads on a customer's 383 and it put down some pretty nice power. It put down 436RWHP N/A through an unlocked TCI 3500 converter. On a TNT 100 shot, he put down 550RWHP.

Brian