LT1 Porting or AFR's???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
LT1 Porting or AFR's???
I'm thinking of doing new heads, which am I better off doing, porting my stock lt1 heads or buying new AFR's probably 190? Oh and as always this is on a budget I'm hoping to spend under $2000. Thanks.
And I would like to use the same heads if I ever decide to do a 396ci stroker.
[Modified by mn_vette, 6:26 PM 4/25/2002]
And I would like to use the same heads if I ever decide to do a 396ci stroker.
[Modified by mn_vette, 6:26 PM 4/25/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 1
From: Lake Ozark MO
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
LT4 heads are a bargain at about $1300 a set assembled...
Unless you're really serious about making horsepower, they'll do just fine.
The bonus is "no exchange". Sell or keep the original heads.
Unless you're really serious about making horsepower, they'll do just fine.
The bonus is "no exchange". Sell or keep the original heads.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (Dan Parker '96)
LT4 heads are a bargain at about $1300 a set assembled...
Unless you're really serious about making horsepower, they'll do just fine.
The bonus is "no exchange". Sell or keep the original heads.
Unless you're really serious about making horsepower, they'll do just fine.
The bonus is "no exchange". Sell or keep the original heads.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 9,713
Likes: 3
From: Sachse Texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
To make real decent power you will have to port either head. This is where it makes a big difference on who ports them as well and the results. I am uing stock LT1 castings on my 396 that have been worked on a couple of times. It makes good power, but if I were to get really serious (which I may someday) I will go with an AFR 210 head. 396 is a lot of cubes and can handle the bigger ports without effecting drivability.
For the money you want to spend, just port what you have. Do the valves, guides, porting, bowl work, etc.
For the money you want to spend, just port what you have. Do the valves, guides, porting, bowl work, etc.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
Yeap, dont waste your $ on LT4's and for most applications I dont suggest an aftermarket casting to customers :). The lt1's are enough head to make over 425rwhp w/o anything extreme & a daily driveable hydraulic roller :)
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 2
From: Hillsboro OR
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
You have several options here.
1. You can buy AFR LT1 heads which are good enough to make 525 hp approx. 1800.
2. Have yours ported and redone 2000 - I would go with speed demon motorsports if you go that way because they seem to know what they are doing and good head porting needs to be done by guys who are experts on your particular head.
3. Canfield also makes LT1 heads that are pretty good and cheaper than AFR.
4. The LT4 heads are a good option also. Consider that GM went to a new port design to make the LT4 instead of keeping the LT1 castings.
1. You can buy AFR LT1 heads which are good enough to make 525 hp approx. 1800.
2. Have yours ported and redone 2000 - I would go with speed demon motorsports if you go that way because they seem to know what they are doing and good head porting needs to be done by guys who are experts on your particular head.
3. Canfield also makes LT1 heads that are pretty good and cheaper than AFR.
4. The LT4 heads are a good option also. Consider that GM went to a new port design to make the LT4 instead of keeping the LT1 castings.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 46
From: Elizabeth City, NC
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
If you are staying NA I would just get your stockers ported, they are capable of serious power. If you are going to run a blower or Nitrous, I would opt for the AFR's personally. Just so you can have a thicker deck. Not that the stockers can't hold it, it's just me.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
For all intents and purposes, unless you need ALOT of material to remove, or a huge chamber, AFR's are a waste of money. Them makin 525hp.. i dunno, you'd need something to flow like their cnc competition porting claims ... we've yet to see a single AFR head even get close to the claimed numbers. Theyre getting better in recent months, but still not as good as a professional handport job. Theyre awful expensive as well last i saw, IIRC competition ported 210's were $2650ish lol... thats rape for an 'ok' head with mediocre components. As far as canfields.. it seems noone buys them anymore, they were less than spectacular.
We're not having problems getting 420+rwhp with worked lt1's and a hydraulic... working on 450+rwhp out of lt1's & our cam :).... There's potential there, just gotta find someone who knows how to milk it for all its worth :D
Take Care
-Phil
We're not having problems getting 420+rwhp with worked lt1's and a hydraulic... working on 450+rwhp out of lt1's & our cam :).... There's potential there, just gotta find someone who knows how to milk it for all its worth :D
Take Care
-Phil
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (LPDesRoche)
If you are staying NA I would just get your stockers ported, they are capable of serious power. If you are going to run a blower or Nitrous, I would opt for the AFR's personally. Just so you can have a thicker deck. Not that the stockers can't hold it, it's just me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
I don't know how you can choose heads without knowing what cam, exhaust and targeted hp you are looking for. Not a lot of difference in well done LT1 and LT4 heads. Why don't you let us know what you hope to accomplish?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (olephart)
I don't know how you can choose heads without knowing what cam, exhaust and targeted hp you are looking for. Not a lot of difference in well done LT1 and LT4 heads. Why don't you let us know what you hope to accomplish?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Re: LT1 Porting or AFR's??? (mn_vette)
if thats all you want, you REALLY dont need AFR's :)
The thicker deck isnt anything that should sway you towards them, especially since you arent talking about much power :)
-Phil
The thicker deck isnt anything that should sway you towards them, especially since you arent talking about much power :)
-Phil
