Hey guys, just rejoined the site, lost my old name and password, but anyways i would like some opinions on what heads to get. I got a 00 TA 6 speed pretty much stock except for, K&n filter without lid and smooth bellows, bbk throttle body,and a Borla cat-back. I floated the valves the other day i missed a shift ,actually i was at the top of 3rd gear 100mph or so and i stuffed it into 2nd by mistake. i did this a couple years ago on my z28, so im really pissed at myself for doing it again, cause i try to power shift for no reason.i didnt need to. with the Z i bought a diff motor, but my T/A only has 30,000 miles. anyway i bent all the pushrods and bent some of the valves so i want to get some new heads complete and stronger pushrods. But with so many out there i want to now what is the best bang for the buck. i would like around 400 hp to the wheels. I plan to get Long tube headers and offroad y-pipe and ls6 intake also to help things out. my dad has a supercharged c5 and he wants me to get ls6 heads, but they are not cheap. plus i think there is better aftermarket heads that are cheaper,that might flow more. Well if u guys could help me out i would greatly appreciate it.
p.s if u think i can get some decent hp with diff heads without a diff cam, let me know

Cliffnotes. best complete head package and cam for the money, close to 400 hp, under $2000 any less would be great

 

Tons of options out there for the money...

PRC stage 2.5 LS6 or 5.3 heads and a mid sized cam, with the addition of longtubes and other little boltons is easily 400whp...THey may be budget minded heads, but they are rivaling some of the aftermarket brands out there...And as far as bang for buck, it's a done deal...

I believe that they sell PRC's for 1200$ with the dual spring upgrade that flow pretty well...And there is also a head and cam package for under 1700$...

You're going to need an LS2 timing chain, hardened pushrods, LS6 intake or FAST 90mm and TB if you have the money, all the gaskets and fluids, a lid, and some longtubes and you'll have a pretty nice car for yourself...May also want to consider a clutch once you do this, you'll pretty much need one

 

Use the search feature. I've replied to situations like this probably over a hundred times.

 

Thanks a lot for the input and ur time, Me>you
i am def looking into the PRC's thats about what i want to spend on the heads, because of all the other parts i want. I did not relize i will need a LS2 timing chain if i use the LS6 style heads thanks for that info.
i'm def getting a LS6 intake as well as hardend pushrods. I have a certain amount of money i want to spend but i def not going to cut any corners, if i spend more, oh well i want my car to be done right the first time.
As for the clutch, yea ur not kidding after this motor build my clutch is next to get changed, i already relize that, i had a nice z06 style clutch in my 99 z28 and what a differance it made.
again thanks for the info, il update on what heads im getting, hopefully in the next week or to.
plus my B-day is coming up this next month so the wife and fam already know what i want

ive checked the search feature Fraest but people change their minds so much about whats better or worse for the money and HP, so i wanted something recent, hence the new thread, sorry

 

The beefier timing chain is due to the fact that with a larger cam, you'll have to spin the motor higher...It has nothing to do with the fact that you're using different heads.

If you're on a budget, I'd go with either the Patriot Performance ported LS6 heads w/Patriot Gold Springs or even the Dart 225s for a little more $$$. That with a 23x/23x camshaft like the Thunder Racing TRaK or Futral Motorsports F-13/F-14 will put you around 440-450rwhp on an LS6 intake manifold and ported TB.

As far as clutches go, the LS6 clutch will never hold that kind of power for long. If you're on a budget, you're better off with the LS2 flywheel/LS7 clutch or the Spec Stage 4 or 5 clutch.

Mike

 

Thanks Mike
i haven't been on in a while cause ive been so busy, but thanx for the input, ive noticed your pretty popular on this site u def now ur ****, thanks for responding. I didn't see why i needed the timing chain so glad u cleared that up for me. Yea ive looked at the Patriot heads too they look like a good deal im still up in the air about which ones to get. i guess i better make up my mind

and yea Spec clutches are nice. i put a stage 2 in my Prelude and i like it a lot. I'l probley put a stage 4 or 5 like u said in the 'Bird

 

I FINALLY bought some heads of ebay, that were PP by Cartek suppose to be stage 2. Guy says he put 2 grand into them, they come with Ferrera race valves and comp springs. Got them for $760, they seem nice i have to wait and see, the dude selling them seems legit too.

I want to get the LX cam from Cartek so it matches, but what about my roller rockers do i need new ones?

 

No. The only time you need to really "upgrade" them is when you're using a shaft rocker setup.

I used the stock rockers on my 408 making 530rwhp with no problems @ 7000-7200 rpm.

Mike

 

Are you sure those heads don't need any work? If not, $760 is a steal! High dollar aftermarket heads even today are struggling to do what Cartek did with stock castings over 5 years ago...

 

Thanks Mike, exactly what i was hoping to hear, i don't want to spend money on stuff i don't need, that way i can get some more bolt ons
i really need some long tubes, but anyway, thanks

Yes these heads were just redone by Cartek and are ready to bolt on, they were ported to stage 2 status and were fitted with brand new Ferrea valves (3 angle valve job,brand new high lift springs were installed, with new retainers.)

i def got a steal, gotta love Ebay i was looking at $1700 for these edelbrock/lingenfilter heads but just couldn't afford that right now, so went searching on ebay and esniped them at the last second.

I just talked to the guy on the phone, has a Corvette and Camaro, Originally they were stage 1 heads on hes Camaro. He then sent them back to Cartek to get redone into stage 2 heads for the Camaro. They came back and were never installed. Then he sold the Camaro and bought a 06 Vette. but kept the heads that were redone. He was gonna put them on the Vette but decided not to because of warranty. So these have NEVER been installed on a engine since being redone.

But hes agreed with me, to write me up a letter/recepit stating if I don't like the heads the minute I open them, or they aren't what he says they are, i'm getting my money back. So hopefully its not to good to be true, but he seems like a good guy, even gave me his mechanic's phone number to ask him about the heads and work hes done on his cars.