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Haven't done it, pondered between Katech and Texas Speed for too long. If you do a little bit of a google search you can find a couple of reports on the measured results -- while I don't have them saved, I do recall the results were very satisfying, particularly for a $500 service.
Haven't done it, pondered between Katech and Texas Speed for too long. If you do a little bit of a google search you can find a couple of reports on the measured results -- while I don't have them saved, I do recall the results were very satisfying, particularly for a $500 service.
I am looking at the "bundled CNC service"...
CNC ported intake/exhaust runners
Competition valve job
Hand-blending
Assembly with BTR .660 double springs included and NEW replacement valve 2.00/1.55 or 2.02/1.57 oversized valves.
I talked to Katech a couple weeks ago. Their "full boat in" price with them doing the work on my heads was around $1.8k. I also talked to Terry Wilkes, which I think has a slightly better deal with his Stage 2 package for about the same money and he supplies the 243/799 heads. That would make for less down time, plus you can sell off your old heads to help offset some of the total cost.
I talked to Katech a couple weeks ago. Their "full boat in" price with them doing the work on my heads was around $1.8k. I also talked to Terry Wilkes, which I think has a slightly better deal with his Stage 2 package for about the same money and he supplies the 243/799 heads. That would make for less down time, plus you can sell off your old heads to help offset some of the total cost.
Hmmm... 228cc intake runner... looking for something smaller than that. This is for a street driven 346. Every 230ish CC (intake runner) or higher 346 I have ridden in feels lazy and soft in low rpms. I simply don't live at WOT 5000rpm+. That is the reason I was looking at the Katech service... theirs are 215CC intake runners, and still get good over-all flows.
Last edited by Pipedream; Apr 17, 2025 at 07:26 AM.
I talked to Katech a couple weeks ago. Their "full boat in" price with them doing the work on my heads was around $1.8k. I also talked to Terry Wilkes, which I think has a slightly better deal with his Stage 2 package for about the same money and he supplies the 243/799 heads. That would make for less down time, plus you can sell off your old heads to help offset some of the total cost.
I think their $500 porting package just gets you the Katech engraving on the heads. 😂
I’ve compared them and the Texas Speed, as you listed above, is the best deal going. They have state of the art equipment and they come back to you fully assembled and ready to install.
Not too sure how this got changed to white txt…. But below is what I meant to reply…
Hmmm... 228cc intake runner... looking for something smaller than that. This is for a street driven 346. Every 230ish CC (intake runner) or higher 346 I have ridden in feels lazy and soft in low rpms. I simply don't live at WOT 5000rpm+. That is the reason I was looking at the Katech service... theirs are 215CC intake runners, and still get good over-all flows.
Last edited by Pipedream; Apr 17, 2025 at 07:52 AM.
Elliot port works has an amazing rep with Gen 2 aluminum heads. I’m tempted to go that route.
I am very interested if anyone can follow this topic up with real world data. I’m not as interested in flow numbers as I am in drivability and full performance idle to redline. Peak numbers impress but don’t tell the whole story.
I’m debating H/C/I as mods vs a supercharger on stock parts.
There also the TSP Brawler heads and Summit now offers a head now (Looks like AFR). that should be right up there with TSP 243 CNC heads if you are looking for new. I have TSP CNC ported 243 (original LS6 valves) heads on my Coupe. If you weren't so far away I'd give you a ride. I don't think I gave up anything down low and for sure rips above 4k rpm, really rips. Keep in mind my build was more than a set of CNC 243 heads.I also have a TSP low lift stage IV "Truck" cam, 90mm LS2 TB/ FAST intake and SE headers. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-coupe-m6.html
Dyno sheet shows the grunt down low and my German/Irish Asselerometer agrees that its torqy.
@Prop-Joe that is a great torque curve. I bet driving your car is a lot of fun. That is why I really like well thought out NA builds. Once you have that tuned right, you just drive it and enjoy.
Katech is pretty much considered the standard for heads, GM used them for the Corvette racing team, which should tell you a lot. I don't know of any pros that run TSP heads.
Katech is pretty much considered the standard for heads, GM used them for the Corvette racing team, which should tell you a lot. I don't know of any pros that run TSP heads.
Golen is very proud of their work. Charges more than twice what TSP does, and a grand more than Katech.
TSP has state of the art CNC machines and their service includes cleaning, CNC porting, CNC valve job, larger SS valves, and full reassembly. They don’t do custom work for racers, but their fixed service bundle keeps their prices low. Reviews from forum members is favorable.
Katech offers a la carte pricing for CNC porting, hand blending, valve job package, cleaning, but they do not reassemble, which I simply do not understand. Hopefully I missed reassembly somewhere in their service menu.
I just had a valve job about 1,000 miles ago, so the Katech stand alone porting looks attractive, but you still have to pay shipping. For $600 more, overall, I could get the whole enchilada from TSP. Decisions, decisions…
Golen is very proud of their work. Charges more than twice what TSP does, and a grand more than Katech.
TSP has state of the art CNC machines and their service includes cleaning, CNC porting, CNC valve job, larger SS valves, and full reassembly. They don’t do custom work for racers, but their fixed service bundle keeps their prices low. Reviews from forum members is favorable.
That's not exactly accurate as the Golen heads are outright with no core. I'm sure you could save some $ shipping yours to Golen for porting instead.
TSP definitely has its detractors. They've never wronged me, but I know people they have
Ok, yup I misread that, but I really don’t need new heads. I have nothing against Golen, just want to spend less. I already have 243 heads on my engine, so I’m pretty sure it’s still between Katech porting, and the TSP complete CNC porting/valve job for me.
When I did my project the TSP "Stage I" CNC port package was $899, using my used supplied 243 heads and original Z06 valves. BTW I noticed in the past TSP offers a $100 discount on the service in the past for a Memorial Day Sale. I was in a hurry to get to my tuners time slot thus no time to take advantage of that discount. The used 2003 Z06 heads I bought (From a member $350) were in Texas and I arranged the seller to get the heads to TSP with no shipping $$$....It was meant to be...
The heads/build have about 20K miles on them now. Car runs great. I had already purchased the TSP Low Lift cam kit (comes with GM Beehive springs) and got some great advise from members here got some CNC ported heads, not just a cam. The stars just happened to align with TSP. The TSP CNC heads were bolt on ready to go. One thing I noticed is that the TSP offer 5 angle Valve jobs and others only 3 angle. I popped a couple valves and they did have the advertised 5 angle feature. I figured with low lift and smallish cam the better the flow around the seat with more angles the better.
I could have driven or flew my Piper and dropped off heads at Katech in MI (I'm in IL), if I could have found a set locally. Wasn't in the cards and I have zero regrets on my path. I hope Pipedream has a positive experience (I'm sure he will with Katech) and I can only add what I have personally done to my car.
Katech cnc porting bundle for 243s
