What is better.....portd Lt1's or heads from a catelogue that are already ported.....Reason I ask is because I am looking to get my heads done by Lloyd Elliot or should I just buy new heads? What is a better route to take? I am looking for the flow numbers to be close to the same.

It depends on your goals. I just got my heads back from Lloyd, and I'm very pleased with the flow numbers. I didn't need a different casting or larger combustion chambers for my application (trying to get 400rwhp out of stock bottom end). If you are more for budget than huge spending, go with Lloyd. He is a VERY easy person to talk to and very informative. He really knows what he's doing. I'm glad I went with him. plug plug plug.
No really, there is no need for aftermarket castings for otherwise relatively stock blocks IMHO. I'm no expert.

(jumps into flame suit)

let the counterstrike roll...

It depends on your application. If you're running a stock bottom end, basic rebuild, MILD 383, ect, then the stock castings should be fine.

If you're running a high RPM 383/396 or big boost forced induction type of setup, they'll work, but you would see good gains up top over them with say AFR's or the like.

I am looking at a 230/236 cam, 1.7's, looking for 375-400 rwhp.

hawk i am shooting for the same goals on rwhp and i am having the stock ported. total engine airflow alledges they can flow 290 to 300 with a stock mod. i will post what the flowbench said when they get sent back.

david

Well if they do post a 290/300 cfm on a stock LT1 head it will be the 1st set in existence. That is impossible without welding and moving the intake port over, which requires a offset rocker and lifter on the intake side. Also very hard to do with a 2.00 intake valve which is all the stock seat will allow. I have a friend who is attempting this and it is not cheap AT ALL.


Big Dave

Cool, I spoke to a guy here locally......BRK Performace. He showed me some heads that he has done and they looked real nice. He showed me the valves and what everything is. HE seemed very knowldgable. I am going to ask him about flow bench testing and he said that getting the desired results that I am looking for can be done. He said he would do my heads and intake plus port matching for $1050.00. What do you guys think? They build racing engines and race their cars at major events....seem like they know what they are talking about...

mine is 1850 with titanium retainers and port matched intake manifold. they are also doing a hand finish on the valves so there is more work than what comes off the CNC.

david

Lloyd is a great guy to work with. I'll be getting my heads back from him next week. Combined with a custom cam through Lloyd I'm looking for some good numbers on stock bottem end, even with my auto and stall.

fuel to the fire......this cat "squinn" Steve Quinn www.norushracing.com is running 9.90's NA on the stock GM LT1 castings, how he does it, i have no farking clue
awesome isnt it?!

Steve

A VERY well sorted out chassis.

and a motor that spins to 8000 rpms.