Assume for a moment that you were going to be building a set of heads to maximize HP with the Hot Cam on an LT1. Due to money concerns, the LT4 intake and heads are out of the question. This leaves me with stock LT1 castings that I am going to have cleaned up. Some people say home porting is the best way, others say professional hand porting, while I'm inclined to believe the CNC'd is the best way to go. All of that aside I'm going to be installing new valves whatever I do.

So my question is who makes the best valves and what sizes should I get? I'm inclined to believe that bigger is not always better. Perhaps larger than stock, but not quite the largest I can cram into the heads? What about the stock size with a really good valve job? Undercut valve stems? Swirl polish?

I can only assume that light weight is a very good thing, I know the LT4 exhaust valves were hollow. I also have to consider durability, this will continue to be my daily driver.

Also what's the deal with 10 degree retainers vs. 7 degree? Pros and cons of each? Titanium retainers probably wouldn't hurt anything since I drive it pretty hard and race it on occasion?

 

:confused:

 

The three angle valve job is to allow the air flow to navigate around the valve easier. Without it the air flow has to make some very tight turns.

 

Swirl polished, back cut and necked along with a 3-5angle valve job all contribute to higher flow, especially at low lift.

 

I am putting Manley Pro-Flo valves into my new heads. They were $18.99 a piece. They are stainless steel, undercut, swirl polished.

Look pretty much like this...

 

Jeez scorp508...18.99 each...that is over $300 for set of valves!:)

I used set of Manley Streetflows...they have undercut, swirl polished, SS features as well, just not the 10,000 rpm capability I suppose.

I think titanium retainers and locks are pretty good investment (if you are concerned about rpm capability) as well as undercut valves for flow.

Sorry can't be more help:)

 

Well I actually am only using those on the intake side. The exhaust side is a nothing special 1.6 stainless steel valve.