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Ls2 heads decisions

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Old Nov 3, 2024 | 03:31 AM
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Default Ls2 heads decisions

The best heads I'd seen is compared to ls3 based heads is the trickflow 225 genX that provides 338 at 600 lift which is good and at dyno sheets it has much more low torque then ls3 base heads and almost the same high end. Second decision is texas speed 247 which on paper shows it flows even better at 200 400 and 600 by 5 cfm give or take but I can't find much dyno data on them only texas speed 227 237 which still provide pretty good dyno number. The only reason I'm not going for ls3 because a custom grind cam would be needed for bunch of different factors which I'd rather not deal with and not to mention a ls3 intake price would be needed on top of everything. The baseline info I seem to get is that the ls2 style has much better low end and ls3 have much better high end but with a bigger cc with higher flow rate ls2 would be better then most ported heads or other brand heads in both low and high end with out all the custom fabrication. Looking towards the tsp 247 but just trying to find anyone who had experience with them

Last edited by Tom2005issue; Nov 3, 2024 at 04:28 AM.
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Old Nov 3, 2024 | 09:23 AM
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If you don't upgrade your LS2 intake manifold, the best heads on the planet won't help much. Budget a FAST intake manifold in the mix. Any of the heads you mentioned will work fine. Even the LS3 heads will make fine low end power if you don't over cam the combo. What kind of budget are you on and what kind of power do you want to make?
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Old Nov 3, 2024 | 02:25 PM
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Yep, besides the different shapes on the intake side of the heads between LS2 and others, Its the OEM LS2 intake manifold that has flow problems when they first started to sonic weld build them, while had it close to perfection on the oem LS3 intake manifolds, that flow much better instead.

Simply, how the head flow alone, verse how the intake manifold flow when bolted to the head, two different things. And just because a head can flow X numbers, does not mean that engine will need that kind of numbers.

And to really short bus it, no mater what head porting, or cam and intake manifold on the Normal aspirated engine, your never going to make as much power that way, as just Supercharging the all stock engine instead. Hell conservative super charger pressure has the motor at 600hp just to start with, and motors with just long tube headers and meth kits/run on E85, over 700HP instead
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Old Nov 3, 2024 | 08:27 PM
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Ya I plan on a fast but a ls3 fast doesn't help much low end or high end so I'm thinking the 247 with a fast would be a nasty combo with a btr stage 3 cam im trying to make 550-500
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Old Nov 3, 2024 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by old motorhead
If you don't upgrade your LS2 intake manifold, the best heads on the planet won't help much. Budget a FAST intake manifold in the mix. Any of the heads you mentioned will work fine. Even the LS3 heads will make fine low end power if you don't over cam the combo. What kind of budget are you on and what kind of power do you want to make?
around a 550-500 btr stage 3, fast 102, and a the heads is my hard Decision I'm thinking the 247 from tsp
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Old Nov 4, 2024 | 12:22 PM
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Keep in mind with radical cam, will have low RPM surging, that makes the car dam near un-drivable in stop and go traffic.

With supercharger, car drives like normal, until you put your foot deep into the accelerator pedal.

Simply, if you have to run the motor normal aspirated due to rules in some class, then make sense to try to get every drop of power out of the motor, no matter the cost (SB4 motor).


But supercharging even on a stock motor, will yield you at least 600hp to start with, and up to 750HP for single hit type use for drag strip runs (limit power to 650HP on stock motor where you are going for hit after hit for say HPDE road course work).
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Old Nov 4, 2024 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Tom2005issue
around a 550-500 btr stage 3, fast 102, and a the heads is my hard Decision I'm thinking the 247 from tsp
If you're wanting those type numbers, get it touch with Tony Mamo. He's about the best there is for extracting big power naturally aspirated.
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Old Nov 4, 2024 | 03:26 PM
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You don't really need the FAST if you're doing an LS3 top-end swap as the LS3 intake manifold flows quite well, but you will definitely want it if you are staying with cathedral port heads.
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Old Nov 6, 2024 | 02:31 PM
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May as well get a GPI Ported Rod Mod LS3 intake if you're going this far.
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Old Nov 6, 2024 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Dzv69
May as well get a GPI Ported Rod Mod LS3 intake if you're going this far.
Amen to that. I have their ported and rod modded LS3 intake manifold on my heads/baby cam LS3. It made 500 at the wheels with perfect manners. It's been going strong almost 6 years and 50K miles. Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I'm my own worst critic any time I mod an LS engine. Wouldn't change a thing on this one. It does everything well.
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