MillertimeZ06

Hey guys was wanting some input on what everybody thinks. How good are our ls6 heads? Is it really worth the extra $2000 to go aftermarket? What about just having the ls6 heads reworked for more performance? This would still be much cheaper than new aftermarket heads.

Todd157k

It all has to work together. LS6 heads breath real well until you put in a cam/headers/intake. Then you'll want bigger heads. They would "in addition to" the other stuff. Putting AFR's on a stock engine will net you a loss... of about $2000.

There are a lot of guys that worked LS6 heads and then swapped them out for after-market ones. They did get a little more out of it, but until you go big with everything else, the gains will be small.

AU N EGL

what do you want your car to do?

and what cam are you going to put in plus all the other bolt ons?

0HinsonSuperCars

Yes, you can certainly port your 243's for more power but most usually fall short of a nice aftermarket CNC ported head (Trickflow/AFR). If you want big power out of a 243 head, it won't be cheap.

Seth

MillertimeZ06

The only mods I have done is vararam and cat back. My goal is to get my car into the 11's quarter mile. I am getting use to manual transmission now so all my 1/4 mile times have only been 13.2 on three passes. (before mods) I have concidered a cam, cai, full exhaust, tune, radials. A cam seems like the best value with a tune, but i dont want a huge radical one to try and compensate for heads. Heads are just relatively expensive so i didnt know if 11's were possible without heads. I am not RANGER so i need some hp for compensation for lack of skill! Im trying to do the best things in phases because performance cost money! I have built a couple motors before so im aware everything has to work together but new technology is a little different than the good ole small block with a 750 holly carb!

danziger

I would keep your 243 heads and go with a cam package and supporting mods like headers, CAI and tune. You can do 430+ rwhp pretty easy on 243s and that should be plenty to get your goal.

~Josh

Save the money from all mods and just buy a supercharger kit.

Done.

ZO6ME

I think the real question here is PRC's 5.3 stage 2.5's at around $1100 or Trickflow/AFR's at $2xxxish. If your like most of us our goals with our set up fluctuate as the next mod is completed.
I'm running around 440 rwhp right now and my goal has changed to something closer to 500rwhp.
My recommendation,
1. exhaust- headers,and maybe cat back (depending on your style, mild or wild)
2. cam package- I did TSP package (don't think you can beat the price)
2a. cam package with heads and FAST 92/LS2 90 setup all por matched
Don't be like me, headers then cam package then FAST 92/90 now I need heads and port match everything with the FAST 92/90. I'm caught between tunes (at $250-$300).
2.

MillertimeZ06

I have been looking at those ms4 cams. They look like monsters on even a stock z06. Of course a supercharger is the best all around but $5500 dollars is quite a bit. I am really thinking that possibly a cam, with my vararam, a tune might be enough to put me in the 11's. It seems like the ls6 motors are hiding alot of power. Headers an aftermarket heads seem like they don't actually yield that much power unless you want crazy hp. $1300 for headers to pick up very little hp is quite a bit. It seems like unless you want big hp the factory manifolds work just fine.

SCM_Crash

I don't think a cam that isn't monster is going to get you into the 11s if you're running 13s now. I think you should practice launching and get yourself into the mid 12s stock.

After that, the mods I'd recommend would be:
Headers and X-pipe. The extra torque from the X-pipe will help. (Remember, torque wins races)
Ported LS6 or LS2 throttle body
Tune (that should put you at around 400RWHP if you have an 02+)
M/T Slicks

This should get you into the high 11's and the best part about this is that you'll get better mileage with these mods.

SlowZo6

Who needs mods ? If your only goal is an 11 sec time slip , wait about a month , barrow some sticky tires and head to Atco !!

bumble-z

You need more seat time, and some good rubber in the back. It seems that your all ready dealling w/ more H.P., torque, than you can handle. Good luck.

MillertimeZ06

Lets keep the negative comments to yourself please I never said I didnt need more seat time. You dont know how much hp I can handle because you dont know me. I grew up drag racing but always in automatics. It wont take me but a few more trips down the dragstrip until I get more consistent. Even with sticky tires in 90 degree heat 11's wont happen. 430 rwhp from just a cam is incredible. The torquer 2 or the ms4? I mean wow!

ZO6ME

I did Torquer 3, LG longtubes, ASP Pulley, varraam cai and made 421 rwhp. 430 without headers might be a stretch.

MillertimeZ06

That setup sounds like what im looking for in the near future. The ms4 cam sounds great but hear its dead until 4000 rpm. The torquer cam has more mid range with still a good lope. I had afr heads on my 406 which i loved but i spent a fortune for big radical undrivable hp for the street. I want something which looks good, sounds good, and doesnt get outrun by a mustang. I lost to a 03 mustang cobra when i ran my 13.2 so im still salty!

ZO6ME

Good point about undrivable hp. That's why I am looking into the PRC heads. I was set on Trickflows and still may do them but for the price (and good reviews) the PRC's are lookin pretty good. My cam seems to kick in after about 2200 rpms. I did a 111 LSA and it sounds bad a$$ at the stop light. I am kicking myself for not doing the entire package from Texas Speed. EnglandGreen cams are bad a$$ but I don't know that I would be wanting to drive that big of a cam around. Mine is about as big as I would want to go.

AU N EGL

that is why little cams are so great.

Fricken rocket ships off the line, UP to speed or out of a corner

may not be dyno queens, forum or bar racing bragging rights, but they are quick.

and what I like about my 224/224 581/581 112

As I mentioned before had a slightly different cam at 224/228 581/588 112


2200-2400 to 5250 is what ppl really need, not the 3500-6500 big hp number monsters. But the big number big cams is what ppl want.

one of the FASTEST LS1 motors I have even seen or driven against, was an ASA prepared ( which sounds cool, but does not really mean much - except fast) with the GM ASA cam.

GM ASA 226/236 525/525 110
Stock LS6, intake, heads, internals but Dry sump oiling system

in a ASA Stock car.
liter over 400 rwhp, on a 3500 lb stock car, but bloody fast and reliable

then the Speed World GT or Grand AM DP engines

LS6, 243 heads ( 59.5) and the GM CUP cam 239/251 570/570 106
also dry sump oiling

Notice something about these old cams?

GM ASA 226/236 525/525 110
GM CUP cam 239/251 570/570 106

Not much lift.

MillertimeZ06

This is very true. Bigger isnt always better. I still want a street car just one that can run an 11 second quarter mile then turn around and run a road course. Heads are expensive, headers expensive, cam pushrods springs are more affordable and seems to yield the most benefits. Eventually i will have it all just not all at once. I dont know about you guys but i dont own my car yet. Once its paid for thats when the real fun starts!

AU N EGL

Smart Man

C5 Pete

As you mentioned, you need more practice. You can get in the 12's with just more seat time.

Low 12s with Drag radials and good air.

Mid to High 11s with headers & a tune... No one said you have to buy new. Keep an eye on the forsale section. They sometimes go pretty cheap - I got my Kooks with off-road x-pipe for $600.

Low 11s with a mild cam - as mentioned, mild cams offer great street manners and still are very zippy at the track.
Again, used will do from a reputable member. However, I think I'd likely buy new because they arent that expensive.

In the forsale section right now are a set of 5.3 stage 2.5 PRC heads for $900 shipped.


Best of success with your project