I just decided to add a set of TrickFlow 225 heads to my setup (g5x3 cam, LGM headers, underdrive pulley, vararam) and was wondering if anyone else has used this setup. I had TEA work the heads and we ended up going with 62cc chambers which should put me a hair over 11.4:1 CR using the GM MLS gaskets. I'm pretty excited and expecting some decent numbers but would like to hear from others who have used these heads. THanks

 

I'll be very interested to see responses also. Why did you choose these?
Do you have to notch your pistons?

 

I had hoped you might post here ... actually I choose these heads because several people on ls1tech and the guys at TEA recommended these over AFR due to them putting out higher numbers. Supposedly they don't give anything up down low but have higher peak numbers due to slightly larger intake ports and the fact that they use 13.5 degree valve angle instead of the traditional ls1 15 degree. Also, they have much more valve drop due to this fact so even when milled .015 to achieve the desired CR, I will still end up with more PV clearance than stock heads. So no, definitely do not have to notch pistons. There were two cars using these heads and similar sized cams to the g5x3 that put down 500+rwhp. Obviously these were all out bolt on cars, but I'm hoping for 470 or so??

 

Both trick flow and ETP increase P/V clearance with a given cam. ETP is even more since hey are an 11 degree head. Trick flow will fit with a 236xer even milled. His cam is a 232 and will have zero issues unless its installed a tooth off at 17 degrees worth of nightmare.

 

Thanks for the info Spin... it seems these heads haven't been used a whole lot but I just found a great article about them in a GMHP magazine, in that article with a 232 or so sized cam they outperformed any other head so I'd be interested to see where I wind up. Either way AFR, ETP and TFS heads were all right in the same price range and I think they are all going to perform very closely. I just wanted to try something a little different.

 

I have a very similiar package.

I have the TF LS2 heads with a slightly milder cam than the G5X3, UD pulley, Kooks 1 7/8 with catted x-pipe, ported and polished stock intake and TB. I also went with the Harland Sharp RR arms as recommended by TF.

I did not have my heads massaged at all.

I made 460 RWHP and 390 TQ on a Mustang dyno.

You should have no problem getting to 470 RWHP. I figure on a dynojet I would be pretty close to 500 RWHP. Although the dyno numbers do not really matter except to measure the gains and for tuning. The real benefit of these heads are their efficiency and the fact that my car runs like a raped ape now. I would like to see these heads with the GT11 cam from Lingenfelter, in fact I have been considering doing this over the winter for a little more driveability.

The only reason I did not go with a larger cam is that this is my DD so driveability and fuel mileage was a concern for me.

Overall, I am very pleased with the package.

 

I saw a car that looked like yours and was described as, "having TF heads and 460 RWHP on a mustang dyno," in New Lenox on Friday. Was it yours? Either way, it was a splendid looking Corvette!

 

A FAST intake will REALLY help with those heads and cam. The LS2 manifold will be your bottle neck. ALso, wouldn;t the 215's be better suited for the street, and offer better low end torque?

 

I was told the 225's were designed for the ls2 with the 4.0" bore, the 215's were better suited to ls1/6 motors with smaller bores. This was what was recommended by both TEA and Vengance Motorsports, both of which put out some very stout combo's so I feel confident in their advice. I had actually wanted to go 215's for more torque but was assured the difference would be minimal (plus the cost on each head was very similar but 225's have better springs).

 

Yes, it was mine and thanks for the compliment. Once I get my DPE wheels back on it will look even better. They were dynoing it again b/c I had a header manifold leak and we think it caused the O2 sensor to go bad. So they were just making sure everything was copacetic.

 

True. I know I left some HP and TQ on the table but I did want to cut into the firewall and I did not feel that the one LG sells that you supposedly do not have to modify one was not worth the extra coin to me.

 

I was told the same thing. I also found, as I am sure you have as well, is that these motors rev so quick and get in the powerband of the cam so soon that you do not even miss or notice what minimal loss in torque there may be.

 

Sounds like a great combo!

My friend got 488/425 using AFR 225's and a similar cam so I think you will get 470 pretty easily.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1654018

He has a FAST - now that Spinmonster has shown us all how easy it is to mod the FAST for a C6, I'll be getting one myself one of these days.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1799958

Who's doing your install/tuning? Are there any other odd items you need to do to these heads or are they basically bolt on? Appreciate your input as I was figuring on going AFR someday and cutting my pistons but I'd prefer to not do so so this is a viable option.

 

Here is the flow data for the heads, I believe they outflow the AFR's up top. You are correct though, that the biggest plus is the fact that you can mill the heads and still have sufficient PV clearance and thus not need to notch the pistons. I do all my own work on the car. I had initially used a mail order tune from LGM but I think after all the help you've given I'll be ordering HP Tuners and getting a baseline tune from Charlie at RPM. The heads are a direct bolt on and come with new proper length pushrods as well. The only additional item you need (I guess not needed but strongly suggested) is a set of Harland Sharp rockers. Actually, I thought it was a good idea anyway given the lift of my cam, etc. Here is a link to some info on the heads in case you were interested in checking out the specs: http://www.totalengineairflow.com/pr...gmhead/tfsls1/
Flow Data
TFS 225cc LS-2
Intake Exhaust
0.1 67 54
0.2 141 118
0.3 223 187
0.4 279 231
0.5 316 252
0.55 329 258
0.6 335 262

 

You will be very happy with the Trick Flow heads, we have made over 470 several times with a milder cam than what has been discussed here. Looking forward to your results.

 

Great - I'll look forward to your results, please be sure to post up!

When you go to the dyno try to get the ".drf" files on your thumb drive, you can export the information, and information from HP Tuners histograms, to really do some serious analysis of your car. I'll show you if you like.

Also, good call on the HP Tuners. If you are willing and able to wrench on your own car you will love HP Tuners I predict. It's a wonderful scanning and tuning program and their forum is an excellent source of help (along with the program itself). I'm happy to help too, but I'm a newbie to it so keep that in mind.

 

Keep in mind that the trick flows wont work with stock rockers, so price in 400 more for Hsharp rockers.

AFR's and their 224 cam have been making in the 460-480 ball park forever depending on what else you bolt on. If you can keep the cam size down it will make for an easy time tuning since its your first go-around not to mention the part throttle driveability from the small 205 chamber.

Using a 238 cam ParticG from LS1tech got 508 to the wheels with a set of 205's on a 5.7 liter with gears. Dont bother with large runner heads for peak HP at the expense of low end TQ. Coupled with silly size cams in a stock displacement, the low end will be missing in action. Forget the afr 225's too.

One question you may wish to ask before buying any of the above is where are the 10 second cars with all these huge cams and big runner heads? Cartek's 243 heads have gone 10.8 with the 3x cam and the 2x cam made 470rwhp through 4.10 gears just last month. One does mod a car to make it faster right? I fail to see all the silly size runners and over sized cams are being used since all it does is make big dyno numbers and the cars feel like they have nothing under 4k rpms.

Stay with a small cam and a small intake runner for 460 with great low end TQ........afr205's and a 224 cam.

 

You will be totally satisfied with the trick flow heads.

Sure there are trick flow pimps out there, but there are way more AFR pimps than anything else. Look on LS1 tech and you will see that every trickflow car puts down big numbers. Personally, Im a Patriot Performance Parts pimp since they cost $1k and I have personally put a set on a c5 that made 535 rwhp with a 408 and 238/240 cam.. That was with the little patriot heads (2.02 valves) for a standard bore.

Anyway, they all make big power, it just depends on what brand you like.

 

This car doesn't seem to be giving up much torque down low? Maybe we have different opinions on what good tq numbers are, but I'd be happy with this setup. Mods are:

TrickFlow TFS 225cc Cylinder Heads (64cc)
Vengeance Racing VRX5 (236/238)
Kooks Longtubes w catted connection pipes
FAST 90 Ported by Vengeance
Pulley
Corsa Catback
180* Stat
Vengeance Programming

 

FYI, Patriot Perf. used to have great pricing on HS rockers, they still might. I got a set there cheap for my C5 and they have great customer service (Gunnar is the man there).