Is there any need/gains to port matching the heads to the intake manifold or are they cast and machined well enough from the factory to where this is not necessary?

I will be putting a cam/valve train components in my car soon but am not going to buy heads till later. I have done the port matching on my old muscle cars in the past and have ported many two stroke engines so I am pretty good with a die grinder and working with aluminum.

I guess what I am really looking for is opinions as to whether or not it is worth the effort to port match and clean up casting flaws on LS6 heads or just buy a good set of aftermarket heads.

 

"well enough" for what?

Properly ported and polished heads will always outflow stock heads and port matching stock ones couldn't hurt either. But as long as you're taking them off anyway, consider s full port job either on yours or in exchange for some ported by a professional

 

Thank you for responding.

What I was saying is in reference to the heads of yore. Most heads in the late 60's were not cast or machined very well and port matching was a neccessity if you wanted to get the most out of an otherwise stock set of heads. This was more pronounced when you would use an aftermarket manifold.

I do not want to go through the expense of having my stock heads professionally ported. I would rather buy AFR or Patriot heads if I need more flow. It is really a matter of how much cam I decide to use and what my realistic goals of horsepower end up being including the possibility of forced induction.

In my mind the definition of hot rodding requires you to do as much work for yourself as is possible for your skills and resources. I am not interested in "buying" a hot engine. It spoils the fun of wrenching on your car.

What I was asking for was an opinion of the casting and machining quality of stock LS6 heads. I wanted to know if it was neccessary to do port matching or are the heads and manifold already well matched.

I am trying to put together a part list of everything I need and needed to figure out if I was going to be pulling the heads which would require gaskets and new head bolts. I am still in the air as to whether I want to stay N/A or go with forced induction and this is all part of the excersise of making that decision.