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Old Dec 5, 2024 | 10:08 AM
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Default Help me choose between these heads

I’ve decided to put a new set of heads on my car because mine have been cut on too much and I just want to start new with a fresh set.
I’m trying to decide which ones I’m going to go with between these three. First set is the PRC LS3 Brawler heads from Texas Speed and Performance. They have a five angle valve and dual PAC springs and flow slightly more than stock.
The second set are the Chevy performance heads that are the exact same specs as the factory heads except I believe the valves are a two angle cut rather than three angle, they still have the hollow intake valves.
The third set are the exact GM oem 821 heads that came on the car, a buddy can get me a good deal on them through a Chevy dealership.
The price difference on the three are within a few hundred dollars so all pretty close.
As far as plans for the car it will be cam only N/A I don’t plan on a supercharger or anything like that in the near future.





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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 06:37 AM
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I'd go with the Brawler heads. Based on the LS3 casting but with a CNC porting job and already set up with upgrades springs. Should work well and maximize gains with the cam you have.
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Spaceme1117
I'd go with the Brawler heads. Based on the LS3 casting but with a CNC porting job and already set up with upgrades springs. Should work well and maximize gains with the cam you have.
that’s what I was thinking but I’m most likely going to swap my cam out for a cam motion Titan 2. Considering that would you still go with the brawler heads? I think the pac 1219 springs would match up better with that Titan 2 then the dual .660 springs on the brawler heads but they would still work. I can get a really good deal on a brand new set of factory 821 heads but I would have to swap the springs out
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 07:48 AM
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Originally Posted by bwill03z
that’s what I was thinking but I’m most likely going to swap my cam out for a cam motion Titan 2. Considering that would you still go with the brawler heads? I think the pac 1219 springs would match up better with that Titan 2 then the dual .660 springs on the brawler heads but they would still work. I can get a really good deal on a brand new set of factory 821 heads but I would have to swap the springs out
The CNC porting of the Brawler heads would be good to go with the cam. You could swap out the springs easily but the dual springs would also be fine. The PAC 1219 springs are excellent. And you could just sell the dual springs if you changed them out and recoup some of the cost.
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Spaceme1117
The CNC porting of the Brawler heads would be good to go with the cam. You could swap out the springs easily but the dual springs would also be fine. The PAC 1219 springs are excellent. And you could just sell the dual springs if you changed them out and recoup some of the cost.
Very true, I was thinking that as well. I feel
like the dual .660 pac springs would be too much spring for the lower lift titan cam, I think it’s .595/.587 ….and the dual springs should be easy to sell. I like the bronze valve guides and 5 angle valves also on the brawler heads.
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 11:22 AM
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What are the specs of the cam you have now? What are the specs of the cam you're considering? Do you have access to 93 octane fuel?
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by old motorhead
What are the specs of the cam you have now? What are the specs of the cam you're considering? Do you have access to 93 octane fuel?
Current cam is BTR stage 2 V1 which is 225/238.620"605" 113+3

the Titan 2 is
XA222/350-XA230/345-13+3

Car is tuned for 93 octane, that’s all I run
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by bwill03z
Current cam is BTR stage 2 V1 which is 225/238.620"605" 113+3

the Titan 2 is
XA222/350-XA230/345-13+3

Car is tuned for 93 octane, that’s all I run
Do you mean 250/245??? Or im missing something??
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by helga203
Do you mean 250/245??? Or im missing something??
sorry I just copied and pasted

it’s a 222/230 .595/.587 113+3
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by bwill03z
Current cam is BTR stage 2 V1 which is 225/238.620"605" 113+3

the Titan 2 is
XA222/350-XA230/345-13+3

Car is tuned for 93 octane, that’s all I run
The cam in my LS3 is a 226/234 115+4. It has the exact same amount of overlap as the Titan 2 cam. Manners will be similar. Which one do you think is capable of more power? I agree with wanting something milder than the BTR cam. But, damn you're giving up a lot of power. At this point, you can mill your heads a little along with using thinner head gaskets. That's free power. In addition to more power from the bottom on up from the compression increase, you also calm the cam down a bit more. Thinner head gaskets tighten up the quench area and allows more timing too. Mo' timing = mo' power. Win/win/win.

Mine made 500/454 at the wheels with near perfect manners. The wife drives it without issue. Ported and milled heads, thinner head gaskets, ported and rod modded intake mani, and u/d crank pulley brings it all together. It can idle along in 6th gear all day if I ask it to. I don't have to shift around any rough spots. Makes over 350ft/lbs at 1500 rpm. 400 in by 3400rpm. It does have a slightly rough idle though. With bi mode mufflers, it would barely be noticeable with the flaps closed. With 3" non catted mids and Z06 Corsa Sports, it isn't stealth by any means.


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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by old motorhead
The cam in my LS3 is a 226/234 115+4. It has the exact same amount of overlap as the Titan 2 cam. Manners will be similar. Which one do you think is capable of more power? I agree with wanting something milder than the BTR cam. But, damn you're giving up a lot of power. At this point, you can mill your heads a little along with using thinner head gaskets. That's free power. In addition to more power from the bottom on up from the compression increase, you also calm the cam down a bit more. Thinner head gaskets tighten up the quench area and allows more timing too. Mo' timing = mo' power. Win/win/win.

Mine made 500/454 at the wheels with near perfect manners. The wife drives it without issue. Ported and milled heads, thinner head gaskets, ported and rod modded intake mani, and u/d crank pulley brings it all together. It can idle along in 6th gear all day if I ask it to. I don't have to shift around any rough spots. Makes over 350ft/lbs at 1500 rpm. 400 in by 3400rpm. It does have a slightly rough idle though. With bi mode mufflers, it would barely be noticeable with the flaps closed. With 3" non catted mids and Z06 Corsa Sports, it isn't stealth by any means.
Yeah true and these are some good options. But comparing the two cams how much hp do you think I would be giving up going to the Titan 2?
Im really not that worried about losing peak hp cause I prefer better low/mid range power opposed to high rpm stuff.
I made 465whp with the btr cam
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by bwill03z
sorry I just copied and pasted

it’s a 222/230 .595/.587 113+3
I'll let you off the hook for not getting the right info, because all the **** that's been happening to you. I think im jinking you. Telling you i hope things turn around. So maybe this is the approach i'm going to be taking. Hope everything goes wrong.
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by helga203
I'll let you off the hook for not getting the right info, because all the **** that's been happening to you. I think im jinking you. Telling you i hope things turn around. So maybe this is the approach i'm going to be taking. Hope everything goes wrong.
🤣 that might be exactly what I need for things to turn around for me. I just ordered a brand new set of GM 821 heads and prob gonna get that Titan 2 cam. So fingers crossed my crap luck doesn’t continue…
Here’s another question. I have a smelling 10296 hogh volume pump on the car right now, should I leave it or swap it for a GM performance oem pump? I’ve read a few things about the Melling high volume pump not being a great choice



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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by bwill03z
Yeah true and these are some good options. But comparing the two cams how much hp do you think I would be giving up going to the Titan 2?
Im really not that worried about losing peak hp cause I prefer better low/mid range power opposed to high rpm stuff.
I made 465whp with the btr cam
With bolt ons, the T2 is probably a 440 to 450 rwhp cam in an LS3 with manual trans. Add 15ish for the head upgrade. Just because the cam is a little bigger doesn't necessarily mean it gives up anything down low. We're not talking big cams here.
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Old Dec 6, 2024 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by old motorhead
With bolt ons, the T2 is probably a 440 to 450 rwhp cam in an LS3 with manual trans. Add 15ish for the head upgrade. Just because the cam is a little bigger doesn't necessarily mean it gives up anything down low. We're not talking big cams here.
That’s about what I figured, and yea both are small cams for sure. I went ahead and just ordered stock replacement 821 heads so no extra hp there but I just wanted a fresh set of heads.
I’ll ask you the same thing on the oil pump, I currently my am using a Melling 10296 high volume but thinking about switching it for a GM performance oem replacent. Thoughts?
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Old Dec 7, 2024 | 06:49 AM
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The oil pump is a pretty simple piece. Not much to go wrong. It might be worth upgrading if you're doing some crazy chit. For a street car, it's fine as is.
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Old Dec 7, 2024 | 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by old motorhead
The oil pump is a pretty simple piece. Not much to go wrong. It might be worth upgrading if you're doing some crazy chit. For a street car, it's fine as is.
I currently have a Melling 10296 high volume pump in the car but I don’t feel like that’s the pump I need for my application. I just ordered a GM performance stock style pump. The one I posted a pic of above
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Old Dec 7, 2024 | 08:51 AM
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Consider this cam and Cometic MLS head gaskets at .040 thickness unless you absolutely don't want to increase power. Less overlap than the CM cam you're considering. More power potential and smoother running. Less expensive too. Summit Racing SUM-8715 Summit Racing™ Pro LS Automotive Camshafts | Summit Racing
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Old Dec 7, 2024 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by bwill03z
I currently have a Melling 10296 high volume pump in the car but I don’t feel like that’s the pump I need for my application. I just ordered a GM performance stock style pump. The one I posted a pic of above
Found this.

For most LS engines, a high volume oil pump is generally considered better than a high pressure oil pump, especially if you're building a performance engine, as it will move more oil through the system, which is crucial for cooling and lubrication at high RPMs, while still maintaining adequate pressure; a high pressure pump is usually only necessary for extreme high-RPM applications where very high oil pressure is required.

All my engines have high pressure. 6800 to 7k for 90k miles and the bearing were in great shape for 28lbs of boost . Over 1k hp. That my preference.
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Old Dec 7, 2024 | 05:27 PM
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I’ve got Nib TFS LS3 heads if you’re interested.
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