Rebuild LS1 Heads or buy a different Set?
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Palm City Florida
Rebuild LS1 Heads or buy a different Set?
I suspect a possible bent Valve. I really dont want to spend a bunch of money fixing this. I am trying to keep as much as I can for a Supercharger hopefully in the next few months..
So my question.. is it worth having these ported and polished by a local shop and beef up the springs for the eventual Supercharger? if so what costs can I expect...??? will these show any noticeable gains?
Or......
What is the next step to get a solid set of heads suitable for a Kenne Bell or Maggie?
So my question.. is it worth having these ported and polished by a local shop and beef up the springs for the eventual Supercharger? if so what costs can I expect...??? will these show any noticeable gains?
Or......
What is the next step to get a solid set of heads suitable for a Kenne Bell or Maggie?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Palm City Florida
Long story short.. I have a tick that is pronounced.. No bent push rods.. but something aint right... Either Valve or Lifter....
Either way heads need to come off..
So assuming I have a bent Valve.. I am going to need to have that fixed.. While they are doing it I know I need to beef up the springs (At least that is what I am told to do for a blower) Would porting amd polishing gain me anything?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mooresville NC
Better yet, find some stock 317 heads (6.0L) to lower the compression. Add a set of dual springs and have a machine shop just clean 'em up for you. Will make things safer when you go s/c. I got mine for $200.
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From: Palm City Florida
The stock pushrods are supposed to be soft... and be the weak link and save the valvetrain... not on mine either..
Was the Car Driveable? mine is still running fine.. But I can hear it.. I am now pretty sure I kissed a few pistons...
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Thread Starter
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From: Palm City Florida
I assume those are from the GTO's.. If I cannot find a set.. would I be able to acheive the same with a different sized head gasket? Thinner or Thicker?
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Since I have to pull the Damper to do this.. I may as well use that opportuniy to Pin the Crank in prep for the Supercharger.....
Damn its like a domino effect..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mooresville NC
I would do it that way, not with the gasket.I am now hearing I really should change the Timing Chain ( Guessing a JWIS) since I will be really close at that point and should give me added safety with the dual springs.. Also while I am at it upgrade the oil pump for a ported LS6...
Since I have to pull the Damper to do this.. I may as well use that opportuniy to Pin the Crank in prep for the Supercharger.....
Damn its like a domino effect..
Since I have to pull the Damper to do this.. I may as well use that opportuniy to Pin the Crank in prep for the Supercharger.....
Damn its like a domino effect..
For now...if the heads are indeed the problem - I would just replace them with 317s and leave it at that. When you do the s/c, you may want to do a nice blower cam at the same time (cams are only $350ish). If you do the cam you have to remove the timing chain/etc, so that's a good time to change all that. I used a stock LS2 timing chain, and a new LS1 oil pump from GM.
Thread Starter
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From: Palm City Florida
I got mine off a 6.0L truck. If you go to LS1tech.com and post a wanted to buy ad for 317 heads, people will know what you're talking about. I had lots of offers. I would do it that way, not with the gasket.
Yes absolutely. It's hard to draw the line.
For now...if the heads are indeed the problem - I would just replace them with 317s and leave it at that. When you do the s/c, you may want to do a nice blower cam at the same time (cams are only $350ish). If you do the cam you have to remove the timing chain/etc, so that's a good time to change all that. I used a stock LS2 timing chain, and a new LS1 oil pump from GM.
I would do it that way, not with the gasket.Yes absolutely. It's hard to draw the line.
For now...if the heads are indeed the problem - I would just replace them with 317s and leave it at that. When you do the s/c, you may want to do a nice blower cam at the same time (cams are only $350ish). If you do the cam you have to remove the timing chain/etc, so that's a good time to change all that. I used a stock LS2 timing chain, and a new LS1 oil pump from GM.
How will it run with the 6.0 heads BEFORE I go SC...? Will I notice any decrease in power since the compression will be lower?? Will I need to use my HPtuners to tweak it?
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: ATLANTA GA
I bent 4 valves and no pushrods.at the time, I couldnt get a set of used stock heads for a REASONABLE price and FAST. I wound up going to a local head shop I spent about 245 to fix them and in my case i had a little milled off too. everything got rebuilt.
everyone at that time wanted like 250 or so plus boxing these heavy suckers up and having to wait. I had mine done in 2 days and installed with a one day turn around on my heads.
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Get the 317 heads.... they were the standard aluminum head on 6.0 trucks and Escalades.
You mentioned 6.0 GTO... wrong. The 6.0 GTO heads are 243 castings which are the same as the '01 Zo6 heads with solid valves (unlike the '02+ Zo6 with hollow exhaust.)
So get some 317's they have identical ports like the 243 casting (Zo6) heads except they have a larger combustion chamber which will lower your compression ratio by half a point.
Your Corvette will run about the same and when you do add a supercharger you'll be able to run a little more boost (9-10 psi) compared to maxing out at 7.5psi with stock 241 heads.
And yes, I would recommend spending some time on www.ls1tech.com
that's where all the diehard wrench turners hang out.
You mentioned 6.0 GTO... wrong. The 6.0 GTO heads are 243 castings which are the same as the '01 Zo6 heads with solid valves (unlike the '02+ Zo6 with hollow exhaust.)
So get some 317's they have identical ports like the 243 casting (Zo6) heads except they have a larger combustion chamber which will lower your compression ratio by half a point.
Your Corvette will run about the same and when you do add a supercharger you'll be able to run a little more boost (9-10 psi) compared to maxing out at 7.5psi with stock 241 heads.
And yes, I would recommend spending some time on www.ls1tech.com
that's where all the diehard wrench turners hang out.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,602
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From: Palm City Florida
Get the 317 heads.... they were the standard aluminum head on 6.0 trucks and Escalades.
You mentioned 6.0 GTO... wrong. The 6.0 GTO heads are 243 castings which are the same as the '01 Zo6 heads with solid valves (unlike the '02+ Zo6 with hollow exhaust.)
So get some 317's they have identical ports like the 243 casting (Zo6) heads except they have a larger combustion chamber which will lower your compression ratio by half a point.
Your Corvette will run about the same and when you do add a supercharger you'll be able to run a little more boost (9-10 psi) compared to maxing out at 7.5psi with stock 241 heads.
And yes, I would recommend spending some time on www.ls1tech.com
that's where all the diehard wrench turners hang out.
You mentioned 6.0 GTO... wrong. The 6.0 GTO heads are 243 castings which are the same as the '01 Zo6 heads with solid valves (unlike the '02+ Zo6 with hollow exhaust.)
So get some 317's they have identical ports like the 243 casting (Zo6) heads except they have a larger combustion chamber which will lower your compression ratio by half a point.
Your Corvette will run about the same and when you do add a supercharger you'll be able to run a little more boost (9-10 psi) compared to maxing out at 7.5psi with stock 241 heads.
And yes, I would recommend spending some time on www.ls1tech.com
that's where all the diehard wrench turners hang out.
What about tuning for it? my motor is essentuially stock but tweaked with HPtuners.. Will I need to tweak again till I get the Blower?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
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From: Cape Coral FL
Chuck, you could always go with a thinner head gasket like a Cometic if you're changing heads. However, you'd have to pull them to change gaskets again anyway...
On tuning, my guess is you probably won't have to, but with lower cr you may be able to bump the timing to get some power back.
On tuning, my guess is you probably won't have to, but with lower cr you may be able to bump the timing to get some power back.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Palm City Florida
