Quick question on a 799 head swap
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 114
Likes: 7
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Quick question on a 799 head swap
So i have a guy willing to sell me his 799 heads from his 2007 tahoe if i remove them so i was wondering if i could also use the rockers, valve springs, valve, or any other parts from the tahoe and swap them into my c5. What can i salvage for the swap? My plans right now are the heads, then later some long tubes, a stall, then 3.42 gears, and a mild cam. I.know i will have to get center bolt valve covers since i have a 1998 c5 and coil brackets. Will the tahoe valve covers work on my ls1 or are they too tall or maybe they don't have the necessar pcv connections? Please enlighten me
Uneducated autodidact
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 252
From: West of the Sabine, Texas
It's your car, but there is not enough to gain by switching from 241 castings to 799 castings in my opinion. I also wouldn't put used springs in either, rockers could be inspected and reused but not worth the labor and parts expense. Good luck and enjoy 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 114
Likes: 7
From: Honolulu Hawaii
I've been reading that the 799 heads are identical to the 243 heads which were on the zo6 c5s (only different valves, zo6 had sodium lightweight valves) and supposedly provide a decent hp gain. Im able to get the heads for a great price since they are readily available on 5.3l trucks.. so other than my labor, if it is truly identical, then it won't be much $ out of pocket.
Last edited by 808_c5; Jan 24, 2018 at 02:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 114
Likes: 7
From: Honolulu Hawaii
i think that's a good suggestion. probably grab the heads and build them up on the side with new springs and maybe mill it a little and hold off the install till i get the cam.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 696
From: Avon Lake OH
Plan on a dyno tuning session to get the new combo dialed in correctly as well once you have the new parts installed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 319
From: Ohio
You can mill the 799 heads .020" and you'll see decent gains.
You can reuse your current rockers, pushrods, springs if you want, although the springs in the 799 heads will likely be fine.
Get the Tahoe valve covers. The ONLY differences in the car and truck center bolt valve covers were some minor PCV differences, which you can probably figure out on your own without any trouble (assuming it even has different PCV connections).
You can reuse your current rockers, pushrods, springs if you want, although the springs in the 799 heads will likely be fine.
Get the Tahoe valve covers. The ONLY differences in the car and truck center bolt valve covers were some minor PCV differences, which you can probably figure out on your own without any trouble (assuming it even has different PCV connections).
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: SoCal
Only difference between the 799 and 243 heads is the process in manufacturing. The 799 heads were formed in a sand process so the ports can be a bit rough compared to the 243 heads. If porting its a non-issue. Otherwise, everything is the same. Can use the other pieces.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Hickory NC
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I believe your plan sounds good overall.
You are correct about the 799 heads being virtually identical to the LS6 heads minus the lightweight and sodium filled exhaust valves.
Unless the mileage is really low I would encourage your changing springs; especially if you're going to change the cam. Long tubes, higher stall converter and 3.42 rear are good moves, too.
I would also encourage you to wait and do all the engine changes at one time so that you only have to pull the steering rack, timing cover, etc, one time. A new timing chain would be a wise move. Also you should consider a replacement harmonic balancer, too.
Let the cam you select determine what replacement springs you should use. The Tahoe rockers should be good and I understand the newer rockers have a stronger trunnion set up.
Doing everything together will allow you to go with one dyno tuning which, again, will save money. Of course you'll need another dyno tuning when you make the 3.42, and TC change, so again trying to wait and do everything at one time saves $$.
Best wishes with your project. Let us know how it goes.
You are correct about the 799 heads being virtually identical to the LS6 heads minus the lightweight and sodium filled exhaust valves.
Unless the mileage is really low I would encourage your changing springs; especially if you're going to change the cam. Long tubes, higher stall converter and 3.42 rear are good moves, too.
I would also encourage you to wait and do all the engine changes at one time so that you only have to pull the steering rack, timing cover, etc, one time. A new timing chain would be a wise move. Also you should consider a replacement harmonic balancer, too.
Let the cam you select determine what replacement springs you should use. The Tahoe rockers should be good and I understand the newer rockers have a stronger trunnion set up.
Doing everything together will allow you to go with one dyno tuning which, again, will save money. Of course you'll need another dyno tuning when you make the 3.42, and TC change, so again trying to wait and do everything at one time saves $$.
Best wishes with your project. Let us know how it goes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 114
Likes: 7
From: Honolulu Hawaii
I believe your plan sounds good overall.
You are correct about the 799 heads being virtually identical to the LS6 heads minus the lightweight and sodium filled exhaust valves.
Unless the mileage is really low I would encourage your changing springs; especially if you're going to change the cam. Long tubes, higher stall converter and 3.42 rear are good moves, too.
I would also encourage you to wait and do all the engine changes at one time so that you only have to pull the steering rack, timing cover, etc, one time. A new timing chain would be a wise move. Also you should consider a replacement harmonic balancer, too.
Let the cam you select determine what replacement springs you should use. The Tahoe rockers should be good and I understand the newer rockers have a stronger trunnion set up.
Doing everything together will allow you to go with one dyno tuning which, again, will save money. Of course you'll need another dyno tuning when you make the 3.42, and TC change, so again trying to wait and do everything at one time saves $$.
Best wishes with your project. Let us know how it goes.
You are correct about the 799 heads being virtually identical to the LS6 heads minus the lightweight and sodium filled exhaust valves.
Unless the mileage is really low I would encourage your changing springs; especially if you're going to change the cam. Long tubes, higher stall converter and 3.42 rear are good moves, too.
I would also encourage you to wait and do all the engine changes at one time so that you only have to pull the steering rack, timing cover, etc, one time. A new timing chain would be a wise move. Also you should consider a replacement harmonic balancer, too.
Let the cam you select determine what replacement springs you should use. The Tahoe rockers should be good and I understand the newer rockers have a stronger trunnion set up.
Doing everything together will allow you to go with one dyno tuning which, again, will save money. Of course you'll need another dyno tuning when you make the 3.42, and TC change, so again trying to wait and do everything at one time saves $$.
Best wishes with your project. Let us know how it goes.
