Ported intake/heads inquiry
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
Ported intake/heads inquiry
I have an '08 (see sig). I want to add some more mods, which is LG long tubes w/cats. I was going to add a procharger but dont want to go too crazy. So I am leaning more towards doing some intake work.
i.e. Ported intake and heads. The question is shall I perform this work to the stock intake/heads or go with aftermarket units? And secondly will doing this with adding some LG's make a nice difference in power? Also would like to know a round about figure of cost on the port work? I know how much the headers would cost already. The main question is by doint this kind of work (with a tune of course) give me a significant gain in 1/4 times? My guess is around another 50 rwhp!
I dont track the car nor do I drag race all the time, but I do want more punch out of my vette! I know buying the headers w/install is about 2k, I just need to know the amount on the port work? Thanks for any info and input! I am open to suggestions as well.
i.e. Ported intake and heads. The question is shall I perform this work to the stock intake/heads or go with aftermarket units? And secondly will doing this with adding some LG's make a nice difference in power? Also would like to know a round about figure of cost on the port work? I know how much the headers would cost already. The main question is by doint this kind of work (with a tune of course) give me a significant gain in 1/4 times? My guess is around another 50 rwhp!
I dont track the car nor do I drag race all the time, but I do want more punch out of my vette! I know buying the headers w/install is about 2k, I just need to know the amount on the port work? Thanks for any info and input! I am open to suggestions as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I had Cory (LS2 Portworks) port my intake manifold and throttle body; I think typical dyno results are around 10-12hp gain for the mod? For me it was worth it for the money.
BTW the headers, ported intake and ported TB will all help if you decide you do want that procharger later on... That's what I did. My car made about 70more rwhp than a typical bone stock car makes with the A&A vortech kit. Mostly due to the headers and high flow cats though.
BTW the headers, ported intake and ported TB will all help if you decide you do want that procharger later on... That's what I did. My car made about 70more rwhp than a typical bone stock car makes with the A&A vortech kit. Mostly due to the headers and high flow cats though.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Speaking from experience, the vararam, Cory's intake and a tune are your best mods for your dollar bar none. You will drop a half second easy from just those mods. And you will think you got a new car. Next I would get gears. Only get headers if you plan to do a cam down the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Speaking from experience, the vararam, Cory's intake and a tune are your best mods for your dollar bar none. You will drop a half second easy from just those mods. And you will think you got a new car. Next I would get gears. Only get headers if you plan to do a cam down the road.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I will have to disagree with you. My car gained 18hp pre tune with headers and 30hp tuned with headers. The headers also remove 20lbs of weight from the front of the car and improve gas mileage by making the engine work more efficiently. I had a vararam and was really happy when I removed it, but I won't go there; CAI preference aside, there is no way you will make more power from an intake and porting than you would from headers alone. It is best to do all 3, but if I had a limited budget I'd do headers first, then porting then intake if I knew I wouldn't want FI in the future.
Headers are $1,500 alone. And Headers and no tune is a sure way to get a check engine light. Headers are behind the others quite a bit on the value chain. But the next step after the three above.
Buying HP tuners and learning to tune is a good option if you want to do your mods in a step wise manner and you like to tinker. Tuning and scanning is a lot of fun.
Heads would come after headers...and an 08 really doesn't need heads as they flow wonderfully from the factory. The cam is more of an impediment to flow than the heads on an 08.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
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From: The Lost Borough, NYC
So for now its...
LG long tubes w/cats
Intake ported & polished
Heads ported & polished
Tune
I already have the borla stingers and the honker CAI on the car. If I can gain 50+ HP by doing this for a decent price I would be happy. Thanks for any info guys!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I agree with this logic in its order. I planned on doing the headers and then having the intake and heads ported and polished all in 1 shot. I might want them (the heads) shaved down a bit also to increase the compression ratio (if possible). Then tune the car with all 3, then see where I am at. I know that 99.99% I dont want to cam the engine, but FI isnt totally out of the question.
So for now its...
LG long tubes w/cats
Intake ported & polished
Heads ported & polished
Tune
I already have the borla stingers and the honker CAI on the car. If I can gain 50+ HP by doing this for a decent price I would be happy. Thanks for any info guys!
So for now its...
LG long tubes w/cats
Intake ported & polished
Heads ported & polished
Tune
I already have the borla stingers and the honker CAI on the car. If I can gain 50+ HP by doing this for a decent price I would be happy. Thanks for any info guys!
Header wise, LGs are nice, but I found that kooks could be had for much cheaper, and can be bought coated; I would never consider buying uncoated headers; there is enough heat under my engine bay without a bare steel component radiating at 1200F.
If you are looking for additional power, forget porting the heads and get a cam instead. It will idle worse, chug some more fuel and might surge a bit at low RPMs, but it will make a good 40-60whp more depending on your setup. If you want to go FI you should skip the cam. it will idle and drive stock but make 150 - 200whp over stock. That's the route I took and I've been grinning every time I drive the car ever since: there is something about making at the wheels what a McLaren F1 makes at the crank that just makes every time you push on the gas pedal feel special
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
You have an LS3; no one has been able to show any sizeable gains from porting and polishing the heads on these engines, but tuners will charge you $2500 for the service... I would certainly skip on that.
Header wise, LGs are nice, but I found that kooks could be had for much cheaper, and can be bought coated; I would never consider buying uncoated headers; there is enough heat under my engine bay without a bare steel component radiating at 1200F.
If you are looking for additional power, forget porting the heads and get a cam instead. It will idle worse, chug some more fuel and might surge a bit at low RPMs, but it will make a good 40-60whp more depending on your setup. If you want to go FI you should skip the cam. it will idle and drive stock but make 150 - 200whp over stock. That's the route I took and I've been grinning every time I drive the car ever since: there is something about making at the wheels what a McLaren F1 makes at the crank that just makes every time you push on the gas pedal feel special
Header wise, LGs are nice, but I found that kooks could be had for much cheaper, and can be bought coated; I would never consider buying uncoated headers; there is enough heat under my engine bay without a bare steel component radiating at 1200F.
If you are looking for additional power, forget porting the heads and get a cam instead. It will idle worse, chug some more fuel and might surge a bit at low RPMs, but it will make a good 40-60whp more depending on your setup. If you want to go FI you should skip the cam. it will idle and drive stock but make 150 - 200whp over stock. That's the route I took and I've been grinning every time I drive the car ever since: there is something about making at the wheels what a McLaren F1 makes at the crank that just makes every time you push on the gas pedal feel special
Your LS3 heads flow effectively. There is really no need and/or use of porting them... you would essentially be wasting lots of money.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,247
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From: Austin TX
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,027
Likes: 0
From: The Lost Borough, NYC
I know you guys are right about the heads, I do remember reading somewhere that the intake (heads too) is where the LS3 gets its additional 30HP from. But I figured there is always room for improvement. I know I want the headers for sure!
On the cam comment, dont want to go that route... dont want the car to idle rough, surge at low RPM or def not chug more fuel.
On the cam comment, dont want to go that route... dont want the car to idle rough, surge at low RPM or def not chug more fuel.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Setauket New York
Theres a special for this month for ported intake manifold and Throttle body for $325 free shipping. It is by fasterproms.com Here is the thread for it.. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...551&highlight=