Aftermarket Heads
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,174
Likes: 15
From: Florida
Aftermarket Heads
Guys I need your help......my wife has asked for a reasonable X-mas gift idea and I was thinking about upgrading the heads.
I do not want to dive any further into the motor, and already realize that the '02 Intake is same as the Z06. What options do I have.....looking at around 2000.00 maximum and can consider sending mine back (core charge) to reduce price.
Because the car is a daily driver, it needs to be just as docile and cannot be laid up for a week while current heads are being ported/polished. Although I have a weeks vacation during December.
I am only looking for heads or porting ......not cam
I do not want to dive any further into the motor, and already realize that the '02 Intake is same as the Z06. What options do I have.....looking at around 2000.00 maximum and can consider sending mine back (core charge) to reduce price.
Because the car is a daily driver, it needs to be just as docile and cannot be laid up for a week while current heads are being ported/polished. Although I have a weeks vacation during December.
I am only looking for heads or porting ......not cam
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Killrwheels)
Scott...I did ALOT of research before I made my choice to upgrade my heads..There are soooooo many options. I can cut to the chase for you:D
Give me an e-mail or better yet I will give you a ride in my car so that you can feel first hand what the mod will do for your smile:eek:....I'm right here in Heron Bay, Coral Springs.. :yesnod:
[Modified by vstella, 7:05 PM 10/10/2002]
Give me an e-mail or better yet I will give you a ride in my car so that you can feel first hand what the mod will do for your smile:eek:....I'm right here in Heron Bay, Coral Springs.. :yesnod:
[Modified by vstella, 7:05 PM 10/10/2002]
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,174
Likes: 15
From: Florida
Re: Aftermarket Heads (vstella)
I may take you up on that ride. Give me some hints and prices. I do not want to deal with cams and a car that is laid up. I was honestly thinking of Lingenfelter or CNC Heads as more or less a bolt on ! Not looking for HUGE horsepower but obviously dont want to spend $$$ for nothing either !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Killrwheels)
I was honestly thinking of Lingenfelter or CNC Heads as more or less a bolt on ! Not looking for HUGE horsepower but obviously dont want to spend $$$ for nothing either !
There are soooo many options and you will have to stay on budget or you will get into more than you want to spend..I know!!! :yesnod:
I can only tell you that at the very minimum insatllation alone will be about $800. This is just installation by a professional like Mike Norris..(the best IMO)Now you have Stage 1 or stage 2 or my recommendation the ARE "street eliminator" which are stock heads ported and polished with stock valves. Any way you go your looking at anywhere from $1300- 2800 or more for the heads! Now you have the accessories which will be needed like upgraded springs locks retainers and seals..just to name a few :yesnod: Frankly I think if you can pony up about $2700-3000( including installation) you will get a nice cam with it too and the result will be a 45-60 RWHP gain and a nice smile..The heads alone will net you maybe 15-25 h.p. There are other options as well but this is a good rule of thumb..give me a call or again stop by this weekend and I can give you a ride and some other options.. :D
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: DFW
Re: Aftermarket Heads (vstella)
IMHO just heads is a big waste of time. You would be better off the other way around. Put in a cam instead of the heads. Ported heads with bigger valves means you need a bigger cam to compensate for the the flow. If not you will lose velocity.. and your car will run like azz.
You can get a head and cam package that uses a mild cam, lets say a 212-218 duration with 550 lift and it will be just as docile as it is stock.
Just remember.. if the heads are coming off.. the cam is right there..
as a side note.. my car is my daily driver with head-cam blah blah blah blah.. and its very docile. :yesnod:
You can get a head and cam package that uses a mild cam, lets say a 212-218 duration with 550 lift and it will be just as docile as it is stock.
Just remember.. if the heads are coming off.. the cam is right there..
as a side note.. my car is my daily driver with head-cam blah blah blah blah.. and its very docile. :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 25,343
Likes: 222
From: Frisco, TX
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Killrwheels)
Sorry to jump on your thread or cause you more thought, but I might be in the same boat. So, I'm adding a question -- how do headers fit into all this? It sounds like people are saying pretty big things about long tubes alone, so if a person is going to over time do heads, cam, headers, or just 2 of the 3, what do you folks thinj would be the best order to do them? Thanks. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,174
Likes: 15
From: Florida
Re: Aftermarket Heads (SteveL2)
I had SLP Headers on my Ram Air T/A and they burned wires all the time. Not to mention the additional noise they created ! While SLP ultimately allowed me to return them and they Jet-Coated for free, I had computer trouble and MAF trouble that Pontiac contributed to the extra heat collecting under the hood during the two years I ran them. And they could never get the Optispark to work .....but thats another story.
I thought some bolt on Lingenfelter Heads 1500-2000 would be small jump of 25-50hp.......but if a cam is necessary, I think I will wait till the warranty ends in 2005 .
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,169
Likes: 6
From: Greenville SC
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Killrwheels)
I thought some bolt on Lingenfelter Heads 1500-2000 would be small jump of 25-50hp.......but if a cam is necessary, I think I will wait till the warranty ends in 2005 .
First, long tube headers are a good idea. Keep the cats while you have the warranty.
Second, the cam will not void your warranty. I'd do both cam and headers and you should be on track for budget and you'll get a pretty solid improvement in hp...
That'll be two cents please. :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 43
From: State of Confusion.
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Killrwheels)
If I had to do one or the other, I'd do a cam. It makes more power than the heads will by themselves. If you can get them both, then that's the way to go.
I'm thinking of just getting a cam and headers now too.
I'm thinking of just getting a cam and headers now too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Killrwheels)
.....but if a cam is necessary, I think I will wait till the warranty ends in 2005 .
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Aftermarket Heads (tito)
IMHO just heads is a big waste of time. You would be better off the other way around. Put in a cam instead of the heads. Ported heads with bigger valves means you need a bigger cam to compensate for the the flow. If not you will lose velocity.. and your car will run like azz.
You can get a head and cam package that uses a mild cam, lets say a 212-218 duration with 550 lift and it will be just as docile as it is stock.
Just remember.. if the heads are coming off.. the cam is right there..
as a side note.. my car is my daily driver with head-cam blah blah blah blah.. and its very docile. :yesnod:
You can get a head and cam package that uses a mild cam, lets say a 212-218 duration with 550 lift and it will be just as docile as it is stock.
Just remember.. if the heads are coming off.. the cam is right there..
as a side note.. my car is my daily driver with head-cam blah blah blah blah.. and its very docile. :yesnod:
Yes sir, if you just do one, heads or cam, going with just the cam is a no brainer vs. just heads! :smash:
Nitrovette:D
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles Founder, West Coast Corvette Challenge
Re: Aftermarket Heads (Nitrovette)
Absolutely, the best bang for your buck - if you are only going to do one item now - would be the cam. I would recommend a nice tasty MMS 218 cam for your car. This is an excellent introductory cam and will work very nicely with stock heads or Stage 1 heads.
More duration than that, and you really should do heads AND cam at the same time.
As others on this thread have suggested, Yyou might want to consider spending a bit more NOW by doing both heads and cam. It WILL SAVE YOU lots of $$$ later in repetitive labor costs, if you do both together.
Also, you are VERY luck to have vstella in your neck of the woods. As you can see, he and I are modded along very similar lines. He has a WEALTH of knowledge that will aid you in picking the right mods AND help you save money in the process. You could accurately view him as the C5 Yoda of Florida! :yesnod: :lol: :rolleyes: :D
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Mississauga ONT
Re: Aftermarket Heads (gary brown)
heads vs cam... hmmmm
LS1 heads flow very well to begin with. Doing a cam would be worthwile as well but some more $$ too.
My reccomendation.... leave the cam.. have the heads done. change the rockers to the crower 1.8 rr's. that will give ya some extra lift.
about needing a cam for ported heads.. that aint true. i vote for heads over the cam.
LS1 heads flow very well to begin with. Doing a cam would be worthwile as well but some more $$ too.
My reccomendation.... leave the cam.. have the heads done. change the rockers to the crower 1.8 rr's. that will give ya some extra lift.
about needing a cam for ported heads.. that aint true. i vote for heads over the cam.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: Aftermarket Heads (gary brown)
..Also, you are VERY luck to have vstella in your neck of the woods. As you can see, he and I are modded along very similar lines. He has a WEALTH of knowledge that will aid you in picking the right mods AND help you save money in the process. You could accurately view him as the C5 Yoda of Florida! :yesnod: :lol: :rolleyes: :D
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 512
Likes: 19
From: Greensboro NC
Re: Aftermarket Heads (SteveL2)
Sorry to jump on your thread or cause you more thought, but I might be in the same boat. So, I'm adding a question -- how do headers fit into all this? It sounds like people are saying pretty big things about long tubes alone, so if a person is going to over time do heads, cam, headers, or just 2 of the 3, what do you folks thinj would be the best order to do them? Thanks. :cheers:
cam 218/218 with .550ish lift
upgraded springs, retainers etc
cold air intake like vortex or other brand
LS6 Intake (if you don't already have it)
LT Headers (can be had for well under $1000)
All of that should fit within your $2000 budget including labor to install.
Only thing is, you will need tuning, which you may be able to fit into your budget if you shop wisely. I think you could pick up between 55 and 70 hp at the wheels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 3
From: Chandler AZ
Re: Aftermarket Heads (tito)
Just remember.. if the heads are coming off.. the cam is right there..
I would save for the whole package :yesnod:
Good Luck :cheers:
[Modified by billreid1@***.net, 1:34 PM 10/14/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,941
Likes: 0
From: Stealth So Cal GOCC ...comming to invade your neighborhood soon
Re: Aftermarket Heads (billreid1@***.net)
If you're absolutely set on first doing heads then look at GMPP CNC'd LS6 heads for ~$1,970 with no core charge required ( which will offset your initial costs if stock heads are resold), '02 Z06 springs included, and sodium filled valves are also included...the useable flow numbers for a street application are very good.
If your options are still open, I'd first go cam (best bang for the buck), and then headers and a great tune. Just keep in mind a complete plan for future mod compatability. I myself am collecting compatable parts so install and tune will only be done once (I hope).
If your options are still open, I'd first go cam (best bang for the buck), and then headers and a great tune. Just keep in mind a complete plan for future mod compatability. I myself am collecting compatable parts so install and tune will only be done once (I hope).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 805
Likes: 2
From: Granbury TX
Re: Aftermarket Heads (billreid1@***.net)
Wished I was closer to Extreme. Nate quoted me a hell of a deal on LS6 Intake, Stage II Heads, Stage III Cam (don't recall specs), Long Tube Headers, and of course their Dyno Tuning. He said this would put it @ over 400 rwhp and that it would be very streetable! Gotta save that MOD $$$$! :yesnod: