Wheel Stander

Gonna have my LT1 bored and stroked this winter and talked with my engine builder today about what to do with the cylinder heads. In the past, he has used both Advanced Induction and Lloyd Elliott but he generally leans toward AI. I'm currently running out-of-the-box Trick Flow 185cc 21 degree heads. The heads have only seen about 750 street-driven miles since they were installed this past March.

For $1550, AI has proposed to do a full CNC and valve job including porting, polishing, reassembly and their BTR dual spring kit with titanium retainers. The work done by AI would use my existing valves. AI wants an additional $350 to port and polish my stock intake. AI was unsure about their turnaround time, but suggested 4 to 6 weeks.

For $1600, LE will perform a full valve job, porting, polishing and reassembly. In addition, LE will install new bronze valve guide liners, machine the valve seats to a larger size (2.055" vs 2.02"), install the larger Manley 6000 series valves, install new Patriot Gold Extreme springs along with new steel retainers and locks. LE will port and polish the intake for an extra $200. LE's turnaround time would be 2 to 4 weeks.

Both AI and LE seem to have excellent reputations, so I'm not sure which direction to go. LE seems to offer more for the money, but my engine builder is gently pushing me toward AI but would be OK using LE. Considering what AI and LE are prepared to offer for their respective prices, which way would you guys go with this?

Thanks ............ WS

blue94

both AI and LE do great work, if you trust your engine builder then listen to him.

C409

..... For that kind of money I would look at some new AFR's and run them out of the box ... then sell the trick flows and get most of your money back ...........

cv67

x2
hit up tpi421vette for some afrs you may be pleasantly surprised
Or contact Mamo about picking those heads up himself
Hes not cheap but the results will be stellar youll know what youre getting. Have my doubts about most claims out there

aklim

I have had a bad experience with TFS so the only way I would use their products is to have a bare head and have someone fluff it up and change each and every piece of hardware they can.

Good suggestion about the AFR heads an selling the TFS to someone else.

FrankieD

+1 for AFR route

96 lt-4

Agree with the other guys.Sell the TFS(185 runners are a tad small for a 383)and get some AFR heads.I had AFR 195's on my 383 LT4 and made 441rwhp with a mild cam and stock LT4 intake with a 52mm TB.

Should you go the porting route I will tell you LE did my stock heads and I lost power.He ended up buying them back.Nice guy and very helpfull over the phone but his work did not help me at all.

smooth1990

I agree with everyone else. Sell the heads you have and buy a new set of AFRs. I run them on my blown 383 and I love them.

aboatguy

I'm biased towards AI

l88rocket

I have used AI heads, but they were factory casting heads they were good heads but anything real power and it almost requires AFR's

aklim

Did he tell you why he thinks you lost power? Was it a tuning issue or mismatched cam and head issue?

Geardo

The LE reworked trick Flows will blow away the stock AFR's

96 lt-4

Only after I had the valve job redone did it match the power of the stock lt4 heads.We never spoke after the heads were returned to him.He got a nicer product back than he sent.As to why the power loss I have no idea.One guess would be the runners may have become too large and not have had sufficient velocity.
I moved on and didn't look back.

Wheel Stander

How long ago did this happen?

bjankuski

I just finished tuning a 350 LT1 with an all stock bottom end and ported stock heads and custom cam from AI. I was very impressed with the power this combination made. The cam was large but idled well and the combination made big power in my opinion. I limited the pulls to 6000 RPM because I was concerned about the stock bottom end giving up after 6000 RPM. With that being said the combination made 412 RWHP at 6000 RPM and it was still climbing like the space shuttle.

95wht6spd

AFR and have LE port.

PLRX

AFR, and ported intake

Jay7199

yeah, thats what iv been lead to believe as well.

aklim

But is that comparison of apples to apples?

Wheel Stander

How could a comparison of "reworked" vs "stock" possibly be apples to apples???