Recommendations for new heads?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 416
Likes: 17
From: Virginia
Recommendations for new heads?
Looking to add new heads but keep the stock drivability of the car. I do hpde and occasionally take the car to work and nights out. So want to add power without impacting the drivability too much. Currently full bolt on with small cam. Ls2 243 stock heads. 412hp to the wheels. Looking to get to around 430.
any recommendations is much appreciated.
any recommendations is much appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,032
Likes: 795
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
LS3 heads and intake will get you there cheaper than aftermarket heads with your intake.LS2 intakes are very restrictive.Trick Flow would probably be my first choice for aftermarket heads.You are going to get a lot of different opinions on this.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 168
Likes: 61
From: Albuquerque, NM
Yes ls3 heads are great and cheap and i would auggest that for most ls2 people. but in my case i had just got given a MSD intake for cathedral heads. So i chose Trick Flow 225 full cnc assembled heads. They are beautiful. Made about 55whp over my previous dyno. Summit has a great price for about $2400 a pair. The only thing is you need to run roller rockers so that's like another $450. Then you need new valve covers to clear the roller rockers. I just used fleabay cover they were like $130. I also did new lifter trays and gm perfornace head gaskets but reused my ls7 lifters since they were only 10k miles. All in i was a little over 3k total doing all the labor myself. Then a fresh tune. ****** rips hard.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 416
Likes: 17
From: Virginia
Yes ls3 heads are great and cheap and i would auggest that for most ls2 people. but in my case i had just got given a MSD intake for cathedral heads. So i chose Trick Flow 225 full cnc assembled heads. They are beautiful. Made about 55whp over my previous dyno. Summit has a great price for about $2400 a pair. The only thing is you need to run roller rockers so that's like another $450. Then you need new valve covers to clear the roller rockers. I just used fleabay cover they were like $130. I also did new lifter trays and gm perfornace head gaskets but reused my ls7 lifters since they were only 10k miles. All in i was a little over 3k total doing all the labor myself. Then a fresh tune. ****** rips hard.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 1,687
From: Southeast TX
You have a decent intake manifold. No reason not to port your own heads. Tx Speed can CNC port, mill to your spec, clean, and assemble with your valve spring of choice. All for around 800 bucks. I think their ported LS2 heads compare pretty nicely to stock LS3 heads. You don't lose static compression ratio like you would if you go the LS3 head route. LS2 heads have 65cc combustion chambers vs the LS3's 70cc. I'd do a light mill on the heads and assemble with .040 Cometic MLS head gaskets. Compression is your friend...unless you don't have 93 octane available.
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