What are the Best LS heads for a stock engine?
While even stock LS engines are blessed with good flowing heads, stock LS heads can still be improved upon. The best approach would be a pair of TFS cathedral port heads, for example, but these were outside our foster-care budget. Instead, we talked to Richard Reyman at West Coast Racing Cylinder Heads (WCRCH) in Van Nuys, California.
How do you make a stock LS engine more powerful?
The best way to make power on any engine is to improve breathing. While even stock LS engines are blessed with good flowing heads, stock LS heads can still be improved upon. The best approach would be a pair of TFS cathedral port heads, for example, but these were outside our foster-care budget.
How much HP does a stock LS7 make?
We first ran the stroker with a set of as-cast, stock LS7 heads and found peak numbers of 742 hp and 684 lb-ft of torque and average numbers of 635 hp and 647 lb-ft. Every one of the aftermarket heads bested those numbers.
What are the best cheap L98 heads?
The 083 TPI L98 heads from F bodies are cheap and plentiful and are about as good as factory gen I heads get, 64cc chambers, 1.94/1.5 valves, slightly under 200 cfms intake @ 0.500 lift. Should be able to find them for $100/pair no problem.
Which LS heads are best?
The LS6 was designed specifically by GM to surpass the LS1 as the best performance head, and it did such a good job that the “243” casting was recycled on the LS2. Aside from the LQ9, which is a copy of the LS6, these are the best performing of the OEM cathedral ports.
What heads will fit LS1?
Here's the rundown summary: LS1 and LS6 blocks will accept only LS1, LS6 and LS2 heads. LS2 blocks can use LS1, LS6 or LS2 heads, as well as L92-style heads, which includes LS3 and LS9 heads. LS3 and LS9 blocks can use LS1, LS6, LS2, LS3 or LS9 heads.
Are 706 heads better than 862?
The 706Vortec heads are even slightly superior to the commonly found 862 heads. The reason is that the 706 heads are SPM (semi-permanent mold) made, while the 862 heads are sand cast. The SPM method is considered to be a more consistent process, but once you port the 862 head, any difference to the 706 head goes away.
Are 317 heads better than 706?
The 317 heads flowed more than the 706 heads by as much as 20 cfm at some lift points. The peak flow numbers differed by just 7 cfm at 0.700 lift. What made the 317 heads both kissed and cursed was the combustion chamber size. The massive chamber volume of 71.5 cc's put them a full 10 cc's over the 706 heads.
Are 706 LS heads any good?
Chevy 706 LS Heads are high-performing cylinder heads that offer enormous power at an incredible price. They are the most affordable and most effective remanufactured cylinder heads that can be used for a 4.8L, 5.3L, and even 6.0L LS engine build.
Are 862 LS heads good?
In a nutshell, the LS 862 heads are the best-performing, affordable, and ported 5.3 heads that will best suit your car. If you are looking for a high-performing cylinder head at an economical price, then the 862 LS heads are definitely a great choice.
What LS engine did 862 heads come on?
The 862 heads are on the GM's LM7 engines. The cylinder heads are designed with aluminum materials with a 61cc combustion chamber volume.
Is it worth porting 706 heads?
Now, porting the 706 heads will definitely help power. We have seen ported versions of these heads from sources like Total Engine Airflow unearth flow numbers that exceed 300 cfm, so flow potential was not a problem.
What did 853 heads come on?
853 was used on 99-00 LS1 engines. 241 was used on 01-04 LS1 engines. They both have a 66.67 cc combustion chamber (10.1 CR), 200cc intake runners, and 70cc (round) exhaust ports.
What LS engine had 243 heads?
The 243 heads came on the LS6 engine produced from 2001 to 2006. It was typically found in the C5 Corvette, but it was eventually ported to the LQ4 and LQ9 to meet truck specs.
Where do 706 heads crack?
2:048:33706 Castech heads are junk - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHeads. You see the 706 down there at the right bottom of the head. And then right in the middle.MoreHeads. You see the 706 down there at the right bottom of the head. And then right in the middle. That little battery. That's the kastek. Casting. Now these are super clean they haven't cracked. Yet.
Are 706 heads better than 243 heads?
706 heads tend to be more popular than 243 heads with those who run naturally aspirated engines. While they don't have the same size combustion chamber they also don't have the tendency to lower the compression ratio and reduce horsepower.
How much does a stock LS7 gain?
Even the best heads were only up by 25 hp or so, the gains offered by ported LS7 heads would be even less. On a stock LS7, there may be no gain at all. This is especially the case if the maximum flow rate given for the heads you plan to purchase exceed the lift of the cam you plan to run. Big flow at .700, .750, or .800 lift is useless if you plan to use a .600-lift cam. Besides, you should be more concerned with the mid-lift flow numbers because the valve spends much more of its time sweeping through the mid-lift (opening and closing) than it does at peak lift.
How much horsepower does a stock LS7 have?
Run on a 495-inch stroker, the stock LS7 heads produced 773 hp. The impressive head flow offered by the stock heads is both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, they offer impressive power right out of the box, but just don’t expect huge power gains when upgrading the heads on your LS3 or LS7.
What stroker was used for static compression?
This test on chamber volume (and static compression) was run on a 416 LS3 stroker. The stroker was built using a Speedmaster crank and rods combined with a set of JE flat-top pistons. Similar to many of the tests, I tried to lower the static compression to safely apply boost to the combination.
What engine was used in the LS3 test?
The test engine was an LS3 crate engine supplied by Gandrud Chevrolet. It was run in stock trim with no changes to the cam, compression, or induction system.
How much horsepower does a 468 stroker have?
The first order of business was to run the 468 with the stock heads to establish a baseline. Equipped with stock LS3 heads, the stroker produced 692 hp at 6,500 rpm and 625 ft-lbs of torque at 4,900 rpm. Next up was a set of heads from TEA, which applied its Stage 2 porting to a set of factory castings. The porting improved the power output from 692 hp and 625 ft-lbs of torque to 719 hp and 631 ft-lbs.
What block is used in a 468 stroker?
As a recap, the 468 stroker used a Darton-sleeved LS6 block with forged internals from Lunati and JE. Aiding in power production was a healthy static compression ratio of 12.0:1. To allow the stroker to maximize power, I installed an off-the-shelf Comp cam (.624 lift, 255/271 duration split, 112 LSA) along with a set of Comp short-travel lifters. Milodon supplied a pan and remote oil filter to work with the modified windage tray (to clear the stroker). ARP and Fel Pro secured each of the three heads tested. Once again, the two ported LS3 heads were compared to a pair of ported versions, in this case from Total Engine Airflow (TEA) and GM Performance.
How many inches is a LS6 aluminum block?
The LS6 aluminum block received Darton sleeves to allow me to bore out the block to 4.185 inches. The overbore was combined with a 4.25-inch Lunati stroker crank.
What engine is 5.7 LS1?
Performance Roadblocks For The 5.7 LS1 V8: Stepping Up From Stock Power. The 5.7-liter LS1 was the first member of the General Motors Generation III engine family, which would collectively become known as 'LS' motors. It debuted in the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette, but quickly spread to the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Trans Am. ...
How high does a LS1 head flow?
Aftermarket heads that flow as high as 450 cfm are not uncommon, either. There's a lot of potential locked up in the LS1 built in as a 'margin of error' at the factory when found in stock form.
How much horsepower can you get from a 78mm throttle body?
With the right tune, you can snag roughly 20 horsepower with this setup, and enjoy snappier response from the throttle as well.
How many lb injectors are needed for LS1?
You can find higher-rate injectors quite easily, and even those intended for later LS engines (such as the LS2) are simple to adapt on the LS1 by way of a basic harness plug. 36 lb to 42 lb injectors are the most common replacements for non-turbo applications.
Is the LS1 a good swap?
The LS1 has been a popular and affordable swap target for anyone seeking eight-cylinders of power in a relatively compact package. That being said, technology has surged forward since the engine's late-90s heyday, and the LS family design has significantly improved in a number of areas as a result.
Is the LS1 safe?
Without valve reliefs in its pistons, the LS1 has less clearance than is considered safe in a high performance environment.
What size head bolt for LS2?
The 6-head-bolt provision makes this high-flowing head ideal for cubic-inch limited aftermarket block combos, or those with LS2- or LQ9-based engines who are looking to upgrade to an aftermarket block later. The runner size makes it appropriate for high-boost, smaller-cube combos, or larger-cube naturally aspirateds, with a 3.90-inch or larger bore. Medium (4.00 inch or larger) and large (4.125 inches) bore versions are also available. The added head bolts add another $200 to the price ($1,499 total), but these are also compatible with any LS3 rocker arms.
How much does a LS2 fast as cast head cost?
Just like the LS1 version these Fast As Cast heads offer all of the great features of the 13.5-degree casting, but in an affordable package. The LS2 version boasts larger intake valves for the 4.00-inch bore and a slightly larger chamber. Roller rockers are required, with no other special needs. Just like the LS1 version, these heads cost $1,700 per pair, fully assembled.
What is an AFR head?
AFR is a staple in the aftermarket cylinder head market, beginning in the 1970s and pioneering CNC porting with its revolutionary tapefed CNC machine. NHRA legends Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins and Warren Johnson both got their power from AFR aluminum heads. In the 1980s AFR loaned its services to GM and NASCAR, pioneering the use of wet flow technology. In the early 1990s the company began full production, and incorporated advanced, high-density cast-billet technology. At long last this brought full five-axis CNC-ported aluminum heads to racers at an affordable price. AFR became the first to offer aftermarket LT1/LT4 heads, the first to receive a CARB EO number, and the first to introduce an LS1/LS6 head. This family-owned and operated organization is based in southern California, and continues to stay on the cutting edge. (Photos Courtesy AirFlow Research)
What is the best head for a Z06 Corvette?
In its most potent form, these heads supported a conservatively rated 405 hp on the Z06 Corvette. The LS6 was designed specifically by GM to surpass the LS1 as the best performance head, and it did such a good job that the “243” casting was recycled on the LS2. Aside from the LQ9, which is a copy of the LS6, these are the best performing of the OEM cathedral ports. Though the LS6 and LS2 are no longer in production, brand-new bare castings are still available for around $850 from Chevrolet Performance Parts dealers. In production these heads have been repurposed on the aluminum 5.3L truck engine (L33, “799” casting), which proves that despite being originally made for a 3.90-inch bore, these heads even fit on 4.8/5.3L blocks (3.78-inch bore), and are quite abundant used.
What is the difference between LS1 and LS1?
The only differences between these heads and the LS1, besides the price, are the valve size and combustion chamber. Out of the box, the small valves make these heads a poor choice for performance applications, but these components are easily upgradable, which often makes for a great high-compression head that is easy on the wallet. These heads have been phased out of production in favor of higher-flowing, LS6-based castings. However, they are quite plentiful used and work with any bore size; search for casting numbers “852” and “706.”
What size intake runner for Edelbrock?
These heads come in a smaller 203-cc intake runner and a 230-cc runner for strokers. The smaller version is perfect for stock cubic-inch combos, and flows plenty of air. Plenty of other great features are afforded by the clean-sheet casting design, though these heads are compatible with factory rockers and other components. These heads bolt right on to any 3.90-inch-or-larger bore and come fully assembled for $1,350.
What is a Mast 11 degree head?
Unlike its predecessor, the Mast 11-degree head uses any LS3-style rocker arms rather than a special set of shaft-mount rockers. Save up your pennies because these fresh castings command $1,299 each.
How much horsepower does a LS7 stroker have?
We first ran the stroker with a set of as-cast, stock LS7 heads and found peak numbers of 742 hp and 684 lb-ft of torque and average numbers of 635 hp and 647 lb-ft. Every one of the aftermarket heads bested those numbers. See the results in the chart, where we reveal the peak power numbers as well as the average horsepower and torque from 3,600 to 6,700 rpm, the torque reading at 4,000 rpm, and the flow numbers at the standard 28 inches of water.
What size crank for LS7?
A tall-deck RHS aluminum block offered the capability to swallow a massive 4.5-inch-stroke crank with plenty of deck height to spare for acceptable rod ratios. The A357-TR RHS aluminum block is a serious piece of hardware with a priority-main oiling system and billet main caps with ARP studs. A Lunati 4.5-inch billet stroker crank, 6.30-inch forged K1 rods, and 4.185-inch Wiseco forged, flat-top pistons filled the block. The bore and stroke combined to produce a big-blocklike displacement of 495 ci.
Do SDPC heads have better flow numbers?
We were also interested to note that, in general, the heads with the better flow numbers produced better power, as you'd expect. But the flow bench does not tell the whole story; looking at flow alone, you might not select the SDPC heads, yet they outpowered some of the heads with similar or slightly higher flow numbers. There's still some magic in port and chamber shapes.
Where to look for head casting numbers?
www.mortec.com is a good place to look at different head casting #'s and a description of them.
Do Vortec heads crack?
FWIW, I've had many pairs of Vortec heads on several different engines having undergone different levels of machining and never had any cracking, but I know some have had that experience, especially while tapping rocker stud bosses and other mods. They shouldn't crack with regular use.
