Diffrences in heads?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 543
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From: Orlando Fl
Diffrences in heads?
A friend of mine said I could have the heads he pulled off his T/A when he went with patriot 5.3 heads. They are '98 Ls1 heads(my car is a '98 also so I can use the same rocker covers.) My intent is to send these heads off to be ported and install at the same time as LTs and a cam.
My question lies in this, am I leaveing alot on the table by not going with the 5.3 or 6.0 heads? I know the5.3 have a smaller combustion chamber (more compression) but with getting these heads for free would i still come out ahead just haveing these heads decked, or is that even worth it? How about the 6.0 heads? do the larger ports on the 6.0 heads become moot when considering porting? Any other suggestions?
My question lies in this, am I leaveing alot on the table by not going with the 5.3 or 6.0 heads? I know the5.3 have a smaller combustion chamber (more compression) but with getting these heads for free would i still come out ahead just haveing these heads decked, or is that even worth it? How about the 6.0 heads? do the larger ports on the 6.0 heads become moot when considering porting? Any other suggestions?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 127
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Well from what I know the 5.3 heads when ported will flow the same as LS1 heads ported. They will raise the compression ratio without having to mill them a ton so you can run a larger cam. 6.0L heads flow like LS6 heads but have like 9 to 1 CR (I think). It all really depends on the cam you are going to get. You can use your 98 heads and get them milled to raise your compression with a smaller cam or leave them unmilled and use a larger cam. The only thing that sucks for you is that if you go with different heads you have to get different valve covers. I ran the 5.3 heads with the TR 230 on my TA with good results. It all really depends on which cam you want and how much you want to spend on the setup (using the heads you have now or getting a new set of heads with new valve covers).
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 181
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From: Moorhead MN
A set of ported LS1 heads can outflow stock LS6 heads. If the choice is between Ported LS1's, Ported 5.3's & Ported LS6's - all in the budget category... I've been told that there is only around a 10rwhp difference across the spread, with the 5.3's and LS1's most likely comparable. Various other mod's will increase, or even decrease, this difference.
Last edited by KRK; Mar 10, 2006 at 03:58 PM.
