LS1 vs. LS2 heads question here
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 798
Likes: 207
From: Rougemont NC
LS1 vs. LS2 heads question here
Ok, I readily admit it, I am not a gearhead, but I am preparing to have a cam/header/x-pipe/hiflow cats/tune package installed. One of the members of my local corvette club says I should also change out the LS1 heads on my 2000 Vert for some LS2 heads. He says they flow much better. I know the stock LS1 heads would be the bottleneck with my present configuration, but will stock LS2 heads be THAT big of an improvement? I can't afford any $2000 heads right now, and I know I can get some LS2 heads for around $500 or so. So what do you folks think? If the LS2's are worth it, I need to move fairly quickly, I will be taking the car down to England Green in about two weeks or so.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,492
Likes: 0
From: Williamson New York
I just recently upgraded my 2000 LS1 to LS2 heads with a "mild" cam- Also have headers and LS6 intake with P&P Throttle body- Doing the math- the extra 1500 dollars for better flowing heads would only yeild about 40 hp more than the 418 rwhp I have now- 37 dollars/hp your call-- good luck
Ps But make sure you spend the money where it will do the most good- timing chain upgrade- underdrive pulley (oh yeah-got one of those too) my next move is the rocker arms- going to yella terras- soon- tryinbg to bullet proof valve train-
Ps But make sure you spend the money where it will do the most good- timing chain upgrade- underdrive pulley (oh yeah-got one of those too) my next move is the rocker arms- going to yella terras- soon- tryinbg to bullet proof valve train-
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Bushwood
St. Jude Donor '08
My car might be there at the same time. Stephen is installing his whiplash cam and putting in a larger up-dated intercooler. I wondered about higher flowing heads but I've read that with blown cars, this upgrade is less cost efficient than it would be w/NA. Which cam are you installing?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 798
Likes: 207
From: Rougemont NC
My car might be there at the same time. Stephen is installing his whiplash cam and putting in a larger up-dated intercooler. I wondered about higher flowing heads but I've read that with blown cars, this upgrade is less cost efficient than it would be w/NA. Which cam are you installing?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,300
Likes: 4
From: Mississauga, Ontario Corvettes were built to be driven...not trailered
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
I just recently upgraded my 2000 LS1 to LS2 heads with a "mild" cam- Also have headers and LS6 intake with P&P Throttle body- Doing the math- the extra 1500 dollars for better flowing heads would only yeild about 40 hp more than the 418 rwhp I have now- 37 dollars/hp your call-- good luck
Ps But make sure you spend the money where it will do the most good- timing chain upgrade- underdrive pulley (oh yeah-got one of those too) my next move is the rocker arms- going to yella terras- soon- tryinbg to bullet proof valve train-
Ps But make sure you spend the money where it will do the most good- timing chain upgrade- underdrive pulley (oh yeah-got one of those too) my next move is the rocker arms- going to yella terras- soon- tryinbg to bullet proof valve train-
Thanks in advance
Mo
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 26
From: Gone
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03
LS2 heads = LS6 heads.
They are the same old 243 castings as on the C5 Z06. The only difference is the LS2 doesn't have the lightweight hollow stem valves the Z06's had.
They are better flowing than the LS1 heads, and will bump up the compression slightly, so yes they are an improvement....but depending on your configuration and your goals, I would save up a bit for at the very least some ported GM heads rather than take the time and money to just bolt on a set of stock GM heads.
They are the same old 243 castings as on the C5 Z06. The only difference is the LS2 doesn't have the lightweight hollow stem valves the Z06's had.
They are better flowing than the LS1 heads, and will bump up the compression slightly, so yes they are an improvement....but depending on your configuration and your goals, I would save up a bit for at the very least some ported GM heads rather than take the time and money to just bolt on a set of stock GM heads.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 703
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
i was in the same situation, being only 20 years old, i couldn't afford the nice, ported and polished aftermarket heads. All i knew was that I wanted to go faster. I found a REALLY REALLY good deal on some LS2 heads that made my decision for me. After putting them on, i already had the cam/headers/intake, i felt a reasonable amount of gain. Im happy with what i have for the money i spent, very happy. But I have not had it dynoed, which im not really a person to care about the numbers on a dyno, i judge my mods based on 1/4 mile track numbers.
I have yet to run it with this new setup, im waiting for cool weather!
by the way, your probably not going to get an extra 40 rwhp from aftermarket heads over LS2/LS6 stock heads, about 25-30 rwhp is the gain.
i think it spent overall $775 and that included:
LS2 heads with 450 miles (off 07 vette)
upgraded to a bigger cam-MTI G1 cam 228/232 .588/.575 114
asp underdrive pulley
160* thermo
all the gaskets and bolts and fluids
I got the heads for $265 shipped to my door from a forum member!!
what a great deal, thanks
Tyler
I have yet to run it with this new setup, im waiting for cool weather!
by the way, your probably not going to get an extra 40 rwhp from aftermarket heads over LS2/LS6 stock heads, about 25-30 rwhp is the gain.
i think it spent overall $775 and that included:
LS2 heads with 450 miles (off 07 vette)
upgraded to a bigger cam-MTI G1 cam 228/232 .588/.575 114
asp underdrive pulley
160* thermo
all the gaskets and bolts and fluids
I got the heads for $265 shipped to my door from a forum member!!
what a great deal, thanks
Tyler
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
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 9
From: Saratoga Springs Ut
Unless your going to have them ported I myself wouldn't bother with the heads. The gain vs. cost and labor is not worth small increase in HP.
I put a set of LS6 heads on my 04 LS1 GTO and it was a lot of work for a 20hp or so gain. I would spend some money on some good porting before installing them.
I put a set of LS6 heads on my 04 LS1 GTO and it was a lot of work for a 20hp or so gain. I would spend some money on some good porting before installing them.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
LS2 heads = LS6 heads.
They are the same old 243 castings as on the C5 Z06. The only difference is the LS2 doesn't have the lightweight hollow stem valves the Z06's had.
They are better flowing than the LS1 heads, and will bump up the compression slightly, so yes they are an improvement....but depending on your configuration and your goals, I would save up a bit for at the very least some ported GM heads rather than take the time and money to just bolt on a set of stock GM heads.
They are the same old 243 castings as on the C5 Z06. The only difference is the LS2 doesn't have the lightweight hollow stem valves the Z06's had.
They are better flowing than the LS1 heads, and will bump up the compression slightly, so yes they are an improvement....but depending on your configuration and your goals, I would save up a bit for at the very least some ported GM heads rather than take the time and money to just bolt on a set of stock GM heads.
Yes it's an improvment, but vs the extra money for the heads and labor, I would just save up. Don't take this the wrong way, but heads are one thing you don't want to do half way...it's all or nothing... JMO I waited an extra year to do my heads cam so I could save up for some AFR's and I am glad I did,... with my heads/cam/headers I picked up 110RWHP on my 01coupe
