C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

C5 Head intel

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 01:35 PM
  #1  
skidmarc's Avatar
skidmarc
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 0
From: Ocean County NJ
Default C5 Head intel

Guys,
Its been a few yrs now since I looked into heads/cam packages. I started out with an aggressive cam and went to an 02 Z06 cam in my 6spd coupe for daily drivability preference. I have no plans to change cams again but thinking of doing something with the heads. Whats the best bang for the buck...AFRs? Or go with LS2's port and polished for quality?

If someone else has been thru this with dyno #'s for heads only that would be great!

Thanks
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 02:13 PM
  #2  
Bob K's Avatar
Bob K
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 260
From: Jamison Pa
St. Jude Donor '11-'25
Default C5 Head Choices

LS2 and LS6 heads are 243 castings, the only difference are the sodium filled valves.

You could pick up a nice set of heads for about 1K. Cartek, TSP, SDPC, A&A all sell bolt on heads.

I would go with a slightly larger car, what the heck your half way there with the heads off.

Bob K.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 02:50 PM
  #3  
99C5JA1's Avatar
99C5JA1
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
Default

With a Z06 cam I would think about any vendors stage 1 or 2 heads would do. You won't see any large gains with a cam that tiny, but they will really help with a decent cam. Bang for the buck I think the Dart 205's are really looking good. Small port, high velocity at a decent price. If you decide to really spend some money the AFR 205's or TFS 215's are both great heads.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 03:35 PM
  #4  
nickolbag's Avatar
nickolbag
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
Default

Heres a thread of what somebody gained going to an aftermarket set of ported heads. Incredible results if you ask me. Cartek really knows how to port heads.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght=cartek+tfs
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 03:48 PM
  #5  
99C5JA1's Avatar
99C5JA1
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
Default

The TFS heads are awesome (which is why I sold my ported 241's for them). But that Z06 cam is not going to making a lot of power with any head. The Cartek 2x linked is a MUCH bigger cam.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 03:49 PM
  #6  
SteveDoten's Avatar
SteveDoten
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,253
Likes: 222
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

give Chris a buzz at ECS; Cream Ridge, NJ
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 03:59 PM
  #7  
nickolbag's Avatar
nickolbag
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
Default

Originally Posted by 99C5JA1
The TFS heads are awesome (which is why I sold my ported 241's for them). But that Z06 cam is not going to making a lot of power with any head. The Cartek 2x linked is a MUCH bigger cam.
you won't see huge gains with a Z06 cam. The 2X is bigger than the Z06 cam but in no way big compared to what others use. I have been running the 2X cam for 6 months now and love it. Behaves well on the street if you want to drive it daily. I just wish I could afford a set of those TFS heads.
Reply
Old Jun 6, 2007 | 04:58 PM
  #8  
99C5JA1's Avatar
99C5JA1
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 623
Likes: 11
From: Ankeny IA
Default

The 2x is an excellent street cam and as you said not too big compared to what people drive around on today. Hopefully the original poster will decide to buy something similar and really take advantage of ported heads.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 7, 2007 | 07:07 PM
  #9  
skidmarc's Avatar
skidmarc
Thread Starter
Drifting
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 0
From: Ocean County NJ
Default

I actually had the 2X cam in at 383RWHP and didnt like the shaking at idle (call me crazy). So I opt'd for the Z06 cam for a lil performance boost with stock like idle.

Sounds like unless I go with a larger cam changing the heads may be a waste?!? Has anyone changed heads only with any dyno #'s?

Thanks for the input bros
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2007 | 08:09 PM
  #10  
nickolbag's Avatar
nickolbag
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
Default

The link in my first post are heads only results but that was with a 2x. Dont know of anybody that did a head sway and kept a stock cam.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2007 | 08:29 PM
  #11  
vettenuts's Avatar
vettenuts
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Default

Vinci Performance installed a set of AFR 205's, out of the box no less, with the stock cam an picked up over 35 hp on a stock C5 without headers. If you milled to boost the compression a tad, I would think these would be excellent performers. These would also boost your low/mid range power as well as the high end. Shoot Tony Mamo a PM and get some information, he can help with any questions you have.
Reply
Old Jun 7, 2007 | 11:22 PM
  #12  
Max@Cartek's Avatar
Max@Cartek
Drifting
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 0
From: Cranford NJ
Default

Originally Posted by skidmarc
Guys,
Its been a few yrs now since I looked into heads/cam packages. I started out with an aggressive cam and went to an 02 Z06 cam in my 6spd coupe for daily drivability preference. I have no plans to change cams again but thinking of doing something with the heads. Whats the best bang for the buck...AFRs? Or go with LS2's port and polished for quality?

If someone else has been thru this with dyno #'s for heads only that would be great!

Thanks
Stop on by, you're close to us. We'll show you some different heads and what we have found with them. We don't just bolt on out-of-box parts we do tons of R&D in house. For example we port the TFS 215s to our liking because we have found gains over the way they come from TFS.

Shoot me a PM if you are interested,
Max
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C5 Head intel





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:35 AM.

story-0
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-20 17:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)

Slideshow: 10 things C8 Corvette owners hate, but won't tell you.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-01 18:36:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!

Slideshow: Should you add one of these incredible Corvettes to your garage?

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-01 18:14:05


VIEW MORE
story-7
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)

Slideshow: Every Corvette Grand Sport explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-26 07:13:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!

Slideshow: Breaking down the 2027 Grand Sport, Grand Sport X, Stingray, and LS6 V8.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-03-26 13:48:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!

Slideshow: 5 reasons bad drivers crash sports cars & 5 ways to avoid a costly shame!

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-03-25 16:32:55


VIEW MORE