LS1 heads
Whats a good pair that wont break the bank?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 9,507
From: Okemos, MI
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 8,319
From: US 1 Mile Marker 52 in the Florida Keys
$950 for the heads
$300 for the core unless you have some 243 castings sitting around
$200 for dual springs since those only go to .580" lift
not such a deal anymore
check out the www.texas-speed.com PRC 5.3 heads...
$300 for the core unless you have some 243 castings sitting around
$200 for dual springs since those only go to .580" lift
not such a deal anymore
check out the www.texas-speed.com PRC 5.3 heads...
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 9,507
From: Okemos, MI
If you have a set of 243 castings laying around, you can send them in and the Livernois heads will cost you $649. Otherwise, $949.
And since you don't have to send in your LS1 cores, you could probably sell them to someone else to reduce your overall cost.
Last edited by JakeRobb; Dec 4, 2006 at 07:08 PM.
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Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 8,319
From: US 1 Mile Marker 52 in the Florida Keys
ah...misread the page a bit...
saw the "no core required"
but then saw this:
"Note: We will give a $300 core refund for exchange of your 243 heads. This refund will be given after we receive and inspect your heads."
but you still need to have the springs upgraded if you have a decent cam...which looks like the Stage 2 heads for $1100
and the average Fbody owner won't have any 243 heads since those are the LS6 casting. but i agree with the possiblity of selling your stockers.
sorry for the confusion
saw the "no core required"
but then saw this:
"Note: We will give a $300 core refund for exchange of your 243 heads. This refund will be given after we receive and inspect your heads."
but you still need to have the springs upgraded if you have a decent cam...which looks like the Stage 2 heads for $1100
and the average Fbody owner won't have any 243 heads since those are the LS6 casting. but i agree with the possiblity of selling your stockers.
sorry for the confusion
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,326
From: fairless hills pa
ah...misread the page a bit...
saw the "no core required"
but then saw this:
"Note: We will give a $300 core refund for exchange of your 243 heads. This refund will be given after we receive and inspect your heads."
but you still need to have the springs upgraded if you have a decent cam...which looks like the Stage 2 heads for $1100
and the average Fbody owner won't have any 243 heads since those are the LS6 casting. but i agree with the possiblity of selling your stockers.
sorry for the confusion
saw the "no core required"
but then saw this:
"Note: We will give a $300 core refund for exchange of your 243 heads. This refund will be given after we receive and inspect your heads."
but you still need to have the springs upgraded if you have a decent cam...which looks like the Stage 2 heads for $1100
and the average Fbody owner won't have any 243 heads since those are the LS6 casting. but i agree with the possiblity of selling your stockers.
sorry for the confusion
.....j/k
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 8,319
From: US 1 Mile Marker 52 in the Florida Keys
"I'm pretty sure that the flow numbers are better on the Stage 2 heads, so you're getting more than just springs for the extra $150."
not according to the chart they show on the website. sounds like the only upgrade is the springs..which makes sense for the price.
their stage 3 heads are $1800...and flow about what the same as most other companies' stage 2 heads for the same price or less.
but for a real budget head, or for a small cam...they do appear to be good heads at a good price.
the Livernois heads flow 303cfm at .600" according to the chart, while the TSP budget LS6 heads flow 307cfm at .600", and they flow significantly better in the low lift numbers.
you can step up to the PRC stg 2 5.3L heads, with bigger valves and smaller combustion chamber, dual springs and titanium retainers for just a few hundred more dollars and step up to 312cfm flow, and i beleive a moderatly sized 220cc runner for maintaining good low end.
budget...the 5.3s would be my choice.
not according to the chart they show on the website. sounds like the only upgrade is the springs..which makes sense for the price.
their stage 3 heads are $1800...and flow about what the same as most other companies' stage 2 heads for the same price or less.
but for a real budget head, or for a small cam...they do appear to be good heads at a good price.
the Livernois heads flow 303cfm at .600" according to the chart, while the TSP budget LS6 heads flow 307cfm at .600", and they flow significantly better in the low lift numbers.
you can step up to the PRC stg 2 5.3L heads, with bigger valves and smaller combustion chamber, dual springs and titanium retainers for just a few hundred more dollars and step up to 312cfm flow, and i beleive a moderatly sized 220cc runner for maintaining good low end.
budget...the 5.3s would be my choice.
Last edited by teke184; Dec 5, 2006 at 07:28 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,507
From: FTW, TX
Where are you finding darts for $1280?
From my recent shopping around here is what I've been finding.
For budget it'll be hard to beat the PRC LS6 heads for $950. Granted they come to $1050 w/the comp valve job and some gold springs.
Valve Lift Intake
.100" 72
.200" 149
.300" 205
.400" 255
.500" 287
.600" 307
.625" 310
These numbers slightly exceed the ET budget LS1 performance heads with larger valves that cost $1295.
Lift Exhaust Intake
.100 68
.200 143
.300 196
.400 247
.500 280
.550 292
.600 303
.650 307
With in the same price range:
PRC stage 1 flows more than the ET LS1 heads which flows more than Livernios stage 1 which flows more than the Patriot stage II LS6 heads. So going by flow numbers PRC is ahead.
I'm still leaning towards the PRC 5.3/2.5 heads w/ 2.02 intake instead of 2.04. They cost $1200.
.300 208
.400 257
.500 290
.600 312
The flow pretty much equals that of the Dart 225.
I know flow numbers aren't the whole picture, but that the info that is readily available.
From my recent shopping around here is what I've been finding.
For budget it'll be hard to beat the PRC LS6 heads for $950. Granted they come to $1050 w/the comp valve job and some gold springs.
Valve Lift Intake
.100" 72
.200" 149
.300" 205
.400" 255
.500" 287
.600" 307
.625" 310
These numbers slightly exceed the ET budget LS1 performance heads with larger valves that cost $1295.
Lift Exhaust Intake
.100 68
.200 143
.300 196
.400 247
.500 280
.550 292
.600 303
.650 307
With in the same price range:
PRC stage 1 flows more than the ET LS1 heads which flows more than Livernios stage 1 which flows more than the Patriot stage II LS6 heads. So going by flow numbers PRC is ahead.
I'm still leaning towards the PRC 5.3/2.5 heads w/ 2.02 intake instead of 2.04. They cost $1200.
.300 208
.400 257
.500 290
.600 312
The flow pretty much equals that of the Dart 225.
I know flow numbers aren't the whole picture, but that the info that is readily available.
Retired
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,166
From: Inside Uranus
Actually, the Dart 225s flow damned close to 300 cfm when they were flowed at Meaux Racing. I believe Alan had some of the "budget" ported LS6 stuff (not going to start a flamewar) flowed and they were closer to 270 cfm. A true 300 cfm head is more rare than you think, LS1 or not. If there were actual 325+ cfm budget stuff floating around, you'd see more 500 rwhp heads/cam cars. Max airflow is just a piece of the puzzle. Sure, you can hog a head out to make it flow that, but when you lose port velocity, you lose power.
Mike
Retired
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 3,166
From: Inside Uranus
On another note, Alan had an Fbody on the dyno. It churned out a hair over 460 rwhp on the final pull after he had finished tuning it. I think it came in somewhere in the 430s. He told me it had budget ported LS6 heads from Company X (A very famous vendor). I said that it did pretty good, considering that my heads/cam 346 did 471 rwhp with the Dart 225s.
He looked at me with a smile and said yeah.... well.... this is a 402 and I told the guy not to waste his money on those budget heads.
You honestly get what you pay for. I still like the Dart 225s, even though the valveseals in the first couple batches appeared to be a little smokey.
The new Trickflows are ridiculous, but I think they are even more expensive than the AFR stuff. Somewhere around $2800 last time I checked.
ETP stuff is nice for sure.
Mike
He looked at me with a smile and said yeah.... well.... this is a 402 and I told the guy not to waste his money on those budget heads.
You honestly get what you pay for. I still like the Dart 225s, even though the valveseals in the first couple batches appeared to be a little smokey.
The new Trickflows are ridiculous, but I think they are even more expensive than the AFR stuff. Somewhere around $2800 last time I checked.
ETP stuff is nice for sure.
Mike