How to:heads only swap?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 1
From: st.louis mo.
How to:heads only swap?
can anyone tell me where i can find a good how to on swapping heads only without the cam?
I want to do this myself and i dont want to remove a lot of parts that i dont have to.
I want to do this myself and i dont want to remove a lot of parts that i dont have to.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire CA
If you search around there are some good write ups hear probably.
www.ls1howto.com
is a good writeup website, I don't like the way he does some things, but it's a good visual.
www.ls1howto.com
is a good writeup website, I don't like the way he does some things, but it's a good visual.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 1
From: Lenexa Kansas
x 10Unless you already have an aftermarket cam. If you are concerned about idle and driveability, you can still install a very small cam while you are in there for $350, and you will be looking at a good 30 more whp. You'd be better off doing a cam-only as opposed to heads only in my opinion.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
x 10Unless you already have an aftermarket cam. If you are concerned about idle and driveability, you can still install a very small cam while you are in there for $350, and you will be looking at a good 30 more whp. You'd be better off doing a cam-only as opposed to heads only in my opinion.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I don't know, it has been demonstrated several times that a set of AFR's correctly setup will net over 40 rwhp with the stock cam keeping emissions and all other things in balance. If you consider what we all pay for headers and a tune, that's a pretty darn good trade-off in my book.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,331
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 2
From: Austin Texas
I used the general procedure from ls1howto.com.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
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From: Littleton Colorado
I don't know, it has been demonstrated several times that a set of AFR's correctly setup will net over 40 rwhp with the stock cam keeping emissions and all other things in balance. If you consider what we all pay for headers and a tune, that's a pretty darn good trade-off in my book.
I was quite happy with just doing some CNC LS6 heads on my old LS1, gave a good bump (better than the long tubes I put on). As a matter of fact I miss that engine. I'm now running a LS6 with similar heads and a big cam and the power dif is not that great (about +20tq) for the driveability issues. Some of that is tune issues that I'm still having to sort out, but I did not tune my LS1 with the new heads and it was great... IMO heads only for a novice is a good choice, less work, less tune issues, and a decent gain. Sure a cam would add power, but...
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 1
From: Lenexa Kansas
Originally Posted by vettenuts
I don't know, it has been demonstrated several times that a set of AFR's correctly setup will net over 40 rwhp with the stock cam keeping emissions and all other things in balance. If you consider what we all pay for headers and a tune, that's a pretty darn good trade-off in my book.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I have since found two or three installations with the same results so it is not out of the question I don't think. For guys in CA what have very strict emissions, this may be the ticket since the AFR's are CARB EO as well.
I also found this today:
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 513
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From: Hotlanta GA
Fwiw, with the current tuning capabilities available to us, most people would consider that chart to be very conservative. Just consider anything 240+ with over .600 lift to be extreme. 
With a good tuner, anything less than that can be made to work well for a daily driver.
I wouldn't rule out doing just a head swap and leaving the stock cam in place. It's for sure a lot less work and worthwhile for power gains. Not being forced to do tuning is a big plus as well.
Dan
With a good tuner, anything less than that can be made to work well for a daily driver.I wouldn't rule out doing just a head swap and leaving the stock cam in place. It's for sure a lot less work and worthwhile for power gains. Not being forced to do tuning is a big plus as well.
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
Fwiw, with the current tuning capabilities available to us, most people would consider that chart to be very conservative. Just consider anything 240+ with over .600 lift to be extreme. With a good tuner, anything less than that can be made to work well for a daily driver.
I wouldn't rule out doing just a head swap and leaving the stock cam in place. It's for sure a lot less work and worthwhile for power gains. Not being forced to do tuning is a big plus as well.
Dan
With a good tuner, anything less than that can be made to work well for a daily driver.I wouldn't rule out doing just a head swap and leaving the stock cam in place. It's for sure a lot less work and worthwhile for power gains. Not being forced to do tuning is a big plus as well.
Dan
I have however been told its possible you can go with higher CAM numbers and still pass smog if you tune it right since the CAM is only one piece of the smog puzzle but have not verified this yet by anyone who knows for sure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
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From: USA