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Old May 8, 2022 | 10:43 AM
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Default C8 head options

Wondering has anyone installed a different set of heads on their car yet ? Any older model heads fit this block ? If not has anyone ported a set of stock heads yet ? Curious to the performance gains . Thanks
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May 8, 2022, 10:40 PM
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LT1 and LT2 heads are the same so you can port the stockers or go something like a PRC LTX or CID head and not have any issues.
Compression is king in the LT NA world so I think getting them decked is probably going to net bigger gains than just a cnc port, but that's just my opinion. I have my heads ported and saw decent gains but they are coming back off soon to get a big mill cut...fingers crossed the ecu doesn't mind it
Old May 8, 2022 | 11:39 AM
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Competition Auto has ported the heads. Great gains also. Car has ported intake also. About $6100 for install which includes the heads and pulling the motor.




Last edited by NoMatter; May 8, 2022 at 11:44 AM.
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Old May 8, 2022 | 10:40 PM
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LT1 and LT2 heads are the same so you can port the stockers or go something like a PRC LTX or CID head and not have any issues.
Compression is king in the LT NA world so I think getting them decked is probably going to net bigger gains than just a cnc port, but that's just my opinion. I have my heads ported and saw decent gains but they are coming back off soon to get a big mill cut...fingers crossed the ecu doesn't mind it
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Old May 9, 2022 | 06:09 AM
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Just curious......what was the gains?
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Old May 10, 2022 | 04:36 PM
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Default Head removal

Can the heads be removed for porting without removing the entire engine?

Thanks, Bill
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Old May 15, 2022 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by langhorne_bill
Can the heads be removed for porting without removing the entire engine?

Thanks, Bill
Maybe, but pulling the engine will probably be easier.
I have a set of CNC ported heads that Richard at West Coast Cylinder heads did for me. I have a set of Ceramic coated American Racing headers and a Soler Performance TB as well.
I'm just waiting on the LPE intake manifold before I swap everything out. I'll look at doing it in the car, but I'm sure we'll just drop the motor/ trans assembly.
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Old May 16, 2022 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Snowblind2.0
LT1 and LT2 heads are the same so you can port the stockers or go something like a PRC LTX or CID head and not have any issues.
Compression is king in the LT NA world so I think getting them decked is probably going to net bigger gains than just a cnc port, but that's just my opinion. I have my heads ported and saw decent gains but they are coming back off soon to get a big mill cut...fingers crossed the ecu doesn't mind it
How much are you thinking of milling? Do you have a means to adjust ignition or cam timing if you start to get some detonation?
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Old May 17, 2022 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Snowblind2.0
LT1 and LT2 heads are the same so you can port the stockers or go something like a PRC LTX or CID head and not have any issues.
Compression is king in the LT NA world so I think getting them decked is probably going to net bigger gains than just a cnc port, but that's just my opinion. I have my heads ported and saw decent gains but they are coming back off soon to get a big mill cut...fingers crossed the ecu doesn't mind it
What’s PTV clearance with VCT?
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Old May 18, 2022 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by langhorne_bill
Can the heads be removed for porting without removing the entire engine?

Thanks, Bill
Short answer is yes. Their is 1 bolt that goes thru the dry sump tank and into the drivers side head, it is only for support and a tool with a cutting wheel can do the job, their is a gap between the tank and the block to get the tool in there. I know the hammerheads on the forums will cry foul that you need that support bolt, but you don't. Its not the correct way but you can do a head swap with the motor still in it.

Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
How much are you thinking of milling? Do you have a means to adjust ignition or cam timing if you start to get some detonation?
I spoke to a couple friends that do head work on the LT1 motors. They say I can mill .060 on the head and do a .028 gasket (.054? is stock) and it has enough ptv clearence but their is a nub by the spark plug that need to be ground off. The issue is octane, which you've asked, and that is the big question for me too. If I go full send in the compression bump I will prob either need to run an octane booster or try something like an e20 mix for a point above 93. I haven't pulled the trigger yet but I'm getting close.



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Old May 18, 2022 | 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Snowblind2.0
Short answer is yes. Their is 1 bolt that goes thru the dry sump tank and into the drivers side head, it is only for support and a tool with a cutting wheel can do the job, their is a gap between the tank and the block to get the tool in there. I know the hammerheads on the forums will cry foul that you need that support bolt, but you don't. Its not the correct way but you can do a head swap with the motor still in it.


I spoke to a couple friends that do head work on the LT1 motors. They say I can mill .060 on the head and do a .028 gasket (.054? is stock) and it has enough ptv clearence but their is a nub by the spark plug that need to be ground off. The issue is octane, which you've asked, and that is the big question for me too. If I go full send in the compression bump I will prob either need to run an octane booster or try something like an e20 mix for a point above 93. I haven't pulled the trigger yet but I'm getting close.


Iirc the LT2 camshaft is “bigger” than LT1 meaning less PTV? Thinner head gasket and that much milling bumps SCR up how much?
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Old May 18, 2022 | 10:03 PM
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So the stock tune won't throw codes and make more HP/TQ just with higher compression and ported heads? Kinda seems hard to believe.
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Old May 11, 2023 | 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Snowblind2.0
LT1 and LT2 heads are the same so you can port the stockers or go something like a PRC LTX or CID head and not have any issues.
Compression is king in the LT NA world so I think getting them decked is probably going to net bigger gains than just a cnc port, but that's just my opinion. I have my heads ported and saw decent gains but they are coming back off soon to get a big mill cut...fingers crossed the ecu doesn't mind it
any update to milling the heads?
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Old May 22, 2023 | 08:57 PM
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did the heads on my car, took about a day, and did not drop the engine. I went with ported stock heads and had 1 bolt to cut. It was a garage project so it was done on quick jacks, I didn't have to jack the car all the work was done from up top.
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Old May 22, 2023 | 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by c5racr1
did the heads on my car, took about a day, and did not drop the engine. I went with ported stock heads and had 1 bolt to cut. It was a garage project so it was done on quick jacks, I didn't have to jack the car all the work was done from up top.
And…. How does she run ? Any other details ?
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Old May 22, 2023 | 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 123sugey
And…. How does she run ? Any other details ?
it’s faster. I pull away from my buddies c8 from a roll
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Old May 22, 2023 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by c5racr1
it’s faster. I pull away from my buddies c8 from a roll
nice 😎
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Old Jul 28, 2023 | 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Ragtop 99
How much are you thinking of milling? Do you have a means to adjust ignition or cam timing if you start to get some detonation?
I ended up doing a .040 mill .040 Cometic and shorter pushrods. Did not adjust timing and got no detonation. Car idles and drives no different than stock. Compression is probably around 12.8:1
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