Ok so I have to replace the head gaskets on my car and I have a 125K on the motor. I have a limited budget and I am not sure what to do to get the most out of the $$$. Should I have my heads worked over ( and what should I do to them?) or should I try and buy a set of aftermarket heads. I have about 500-800 dollars to spend. I know that a local machine shop wants about 300$ to do a valve job, replane them if they are warped, and magniflux (spelling). That is from a reputable shop. So should I have him do more work to my heads or buy another set of heads? and if I buy another set what should I buy? The motor otherwise is very stock. I have run 13.6@104.5 (2.20 60ft) on gears and Flowmaster (not cat-back) I would like to run in the mid 12's (but not all because of the heads that is just the end goal.) I am thinking of putting in the headers while the heads are off as well but I have not looked into that yet. I hear I have to be careful because the car is lowered 1.5 inches.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Brian

 

your best bet would be to get the stocker ported and polishede and larger valves send me an email and i will send you an email of a person who has a good rep with porting heads he does them for about 400 also ported lt1 heads will flow better than stock lt4

 

With only $500-$800 to spend,buying new heads is out of the question.Get yours ported and polished,get some good springs put in while you are at it.So down the road you can stick a cam in.

 

Porting those heads is a very good idea. Professional porting of a modest 350 has shown 25 - 35 horsepower gains! Check out the website & give me a call if you are interested. I'm not far away.
Thanks

 

Do a search for Lloyd Elliot or NightTrain66 and see how the members here respect his port work. It will fit into your budget.

Now might be the time to do 1.6 RR and new springs if you can find a set that wil keep you within your budget along with cost for port.

The heads should be cleaned up by a reputable machine shop prior to reinstalling them regardless which way you go.

Good Luck!

 

I'll back up the stock heads. I was in the same situation as you are and though I did go a little overboard on some parts I just had the heads cleaned up for the money that I had. I was real happy with the results. I believe Summit sells the Crane springs for about $110 or so. They come with everything that you need.

 

Well I have to say thanks for all the help. That being said here is the next question.

I went looking around for springs and all I saw and read was "GREEK"

So can someone help me out and be a little more specific on the springs? And is the 1.6 RR the next step up in performance for these heads?

Again thanks for the help and I am looking into the P&P for the heads.

BTY is removing the heads more work than I would want to do on my own? is there a good step by step located in the forums somewhere?

Brian

 

OK OK OK,

So now that I have read more, and thought about it alittle. I am gonna try and do the head gasket myself, instead of paying a shop to do it. That should save me enough money to do a hotcam kit from pace. http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=243&1=250&3=791

Now will that kit work on for my stock heads after they have been ported and polished?????? Will I need to change the lifters??

DAMN I hope I am not getting into more than I can chew doing this myself. I have a good friend helping me, or rather me helping him do the all the work but he has never been a LT1. He has done cams and heads just not on a LT1. I did see a really book to get from one of the forums as well as Slims instructions on his website that should help a great deal.

Any thoughts............

Oh I have sent and email to Lloyd about doing the heads

Brian

 

if you're doing it yourself get a "head gasket set/kit" which will give you all the gaskets you need. I used FelPro part #HS9966PT for $140.00

all stock parts will be OK with the kit; many have done it here, the springs are debateable. Some folk are changing out springs fro the kit. I'll let someone more knowledgable explain and perhaps provide make and number.

 

bump