ls2 heads suggestions
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
ls2 heads suggestions
i have a stage 3 cam 1 7/8 long tubes and yank 3200 stall sitting in the garage but have no idea what i should look at for heads. anyone have any suggestions? it’s an ls2 and eventually want to get one of pro chargers kits.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 1,676
From: Southeast TX
If I knew a supercharger was in my future, I wouldn't spend a bunch of money on cylinder heads. Maybe send your stock heads off for a CNC port job, valve job, cleaning and assembly ($900 at Tx Speed). I wouldn't use any kind of stage 3 cam with a blower either. You don't need an ill mannered cam when you have positive manifold pressure.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 168
Likes: 61
From: Albuquerque, NM
I was going to send mine to TSP to get ported, because that is huge bang for the buck. but I didn't want the downtime. So I bought trick flow 225 full CNC heads from summit. They work great with my cam and I picked up like 45whp. I had to get roller rockers too tho, and tall valve covers, and correctly sized pushrods. So a lot of additional expense.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 1,676
From: Southeast TX
I was going to send mine to TSP to get ported, because that is huge bang for the buck. but I didn't want the downtime. So I bought trick flow 225 full CNC heads from summit. They work great with my cam and I picked up like 45whp. I had to get roller rockers too tho, and tall valve covers, and correctly sized pushrods. So a lot of additional expense.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,738
Likes: 4,587
^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^ is having all your ducks in the right row. Another set of cathedral port heads I'd throw into the mix would be AFR 225s/230s. I had a set on my 427 Darton motor. They were great. But I do agree with old motorhead that spending $3,000+ on heads wont give you the bang for the buck a blower with ported OEM heads will. No blower, they're great. Not needed with the blower. FI will make up for a port job.......
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 846
Likes: 105
From: Knoxville TN
What the above poster said.
IF you are going with a procharger later, I would HIGHLY recommend swapping to a ls3 head/intake. It will make more power with the ls3 heads over the ls2 heads with the same cam and blower pulley on both setups. Been there, done that. I went 5.90s years ago with 6.0, jam cam, ls3 heads/intake, 1-7/8 headers, procharger, yank pas3400 on 93 pump gas/meth.
IF you are going with a procharger later, I would HIGHLY recommend swapping to a ls3 head/intake. It will make more power with the ls3 heads over the ls2 heads with the same cam and blower pulley on both setups. Been there, done that. I went 5.90s years ago with 6.0, jam cam, ls3 heads/intake, 1-7/8 headers, procharger, yank pas3400 on 93 pump gas/meth.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 1,676
From: Southeast TX
I know this is going to sound absolutely insane.....but, here goes... ").({better, more expensive heads make more power}).(". If there's no line in the sand that you have to stay behind cost wise, absolutely open the flood gates and let the $'s rain. Somehow, I though the OP wasn't looking for that kind of build. Maybe he needs to jump on here and explain his goals and budget.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 268
Likes: 52
From: Seattle
I’d check ls1gto. It’s a very common swap on the ls2 gto. I personally did it. Very straight forward process. I bought the used factory castings, not gm cnc ported heads. Factory manifold as the ls3 manifold flows great and can make power.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 846
Likes: 105
From: Knoxville TN
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 117
Likes: 19
From: New Jersey
Rec ports have a larger chamber for lower compression and flow a lot better than cathedral ports. You'll make more power NA and not need as much boost to make the same power FI. Also might want to consider a LS9 gasket.