Factory or aftermarket heads???

KL01 · 01-21-2024, 09:22 AM

Looking to get my heads done since I been seeing this stock heads on built bottom end failures. So I was wondering, should I use my factory heads and just send them to get ramped up with all the goodies, or should I just get aftermarket heads.

adamjwilson · 01-22-2024, 05:46 AM

What is your budget? Black Mast Heads are one of the best on the market. I wasn't a fan of porting existing stock heads (several places have this service), so I opted for aftermarket heads. Peace of mind more than any real HP gains.

Katech_Mike · 01-22-2024, 10:00 AM

It depends on what you're trying to do.

We offer a CNC service that adds quite a bit of CFM to the factory heads.

You can switch to Ferrea hollow stem intake valves and inconel exhaust valves with a BTR dual spring kit and still be in the $2,200 range for fully ported OEM castings.

Aftermarket castings are going to be $4,000+ typically.

Slip3Kid · 01-22-2024, 10:14 AM

If you go to Pray Performances Youtube channel he has a couple of good videos explaining the good and bad of the stock castings. Worth checking out.

BlackbeastSS2 · 01-22-2024, 10:25 AM

I upgraded my factory heads with Katechs help. I sent them my factory heads because I wanted my build to be number matching still. But don’t care anymore because of my mods have out grown that thought long ago. I got Katech to port the heads in and out, plus hand porting them, new valve job, and got the heads decked. I got them to install my double springs, and smith brothers trunnion kit. (BTR push rods). I went with LS7 performance lifters. I admit I should have went with Johnson Lifters but didn’t.

Stefano · 01-22-2024, 12:52 PM

The factory LT4 heads, properly set up will support serious power.

Here is an L8T with Frankenstien ported heads.

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/sc...-truck-engine/

Joshinator99 · 01-22-2024, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefano

The factory LT4 heads, properly set up will support serious power.

Here is an L8T with Frankenstien ported heads.

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/sc...-truck-engine/

OP has an LT1. Those heads have been known to suffer from core shift, resulting in coolant leaks on heads that are ported. So agree that the LT4 ones are better but aftermarket will still ultimately have best flow and thicker deck flanges to boot.

KL01 · 01-22-2024, 08:07 PM

I wanted to go all out on the heads. I saw Prays recent post on built bottom end with stock heads failure. Really trying to avoid that. I did get a quote for 2400 for stainless exhaust valve, bronze valve guides, cnc port/polish, hot tank, different seats, mill/decking and new springs. Don't really have a budget in mind, I just don't want the heads to fail me and cause a bigger prob.

Joshinator99 · 01-22-2024, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KL01

I wanted to go all out on the heads. I saw Prays recent post on built bottom end with stock heads failure. Really trying to avoid that. I did get a quote for 2400 for stainless exhaust valve, bronze valve guides, cnc port/polish, hot tank, different seats, mill/decking and new springs. Don't really have a budget in mind, I just don't want the heads to fail me and cause a bigger prob.

More than I would invest in LT1 heads, IMO….

KL01 · 01-22-2024, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshinator99

More than I would invest in LT1 heads, IMO….

What would you recommend?

adamjwilson · 01-23-2024, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KL01

What would you recommend?

Aftermarket Castings of your choosing. Do your research as typical wait times exist for new castings. Its an investment.....

KingLT1 · 01-23-2024, 09:01 AM

Stock castings are great if you spend the money to have them totally reworked from the seats forward. The thing is by the time you spend that kind of money, you can get a set of aftermarket heads with a thicker deck. On a NA application not as important as it would be on a big boost build.

Katech_Mike · 01-23-2024, 10:21 AM

Seats chipping and falling out of LT1 heads are 100% related to poor valvetrain control. It's a manufactured issue due to aggressive cam lobes.

We have never failed a seat, intake, or exhaust valve in an OEM LT1 casting. This is across hundreds of in house builds that we've completed since 2014.

You can spend $1,200-$2,000 on porting OEM castings while reusing your intake and exhaust valves and never have a failure if you use the correct combination of parts.

Spend the other 3K on a proper fuel system.

Joshinator99 · 01-23-2024, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KL01

What would you recommend?

https://latemodelengines.com/lme-ede...raceheads.html

01-21-2024, 09:22 AM	#1
KL01 Drives: Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 61	Factory or aftermarket heads??? Looking to get my heads done since I been seeing this stock heads on built bottom end failures. So I was wondering, should I use my factory heads and just send them to get ramped up with all the goodies, or should I just get aftermarket heads. __________________ 2019 2SS D1X/CAM/METH/DROP-INS 800whp on 93/ 890whp/670tq C16

01-22-2024, 05:46 AM	#2
adamjwilson Drives: 2022 Camaro 2SS A10 Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: FL Posts: 524	What is your budget? Black Mast Heads are one of the best on the market. I wasn't a fan of porting existing stock heads (several places have this service), so I opted for aftermarket heads. Peace of mind more than any real HP gains. __________________ 2022 Camaro 2SS/ Whipple 3.0 / 2"Headers/ PRC LTX Heads/ Forged Internals/LT4 fueling/ DSX Aux/ DSX Flex Fuel/ Meth Injection/ Katech 112 TB/ RotoFab Big Gulp/ Corsa NPP/ Various exterior mods Last edited by adamjwilson; 01-23-2024 at 06:41 AM.

01-22-2024, 10:14 AM	#4
Slip3Kid Drives: 2023 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: OH Posts: 44	If you go to Pray Performances Youtube channel he has a couple of good videos explaining the good and bad of the stock castings. Worth checking out. __________________ 23 2SS M6 1/30 1100 3/23 2000 3/31 3000 4/04 3400 TPW 4/17 4/19 3800 4/20 4300 4/22 5000 4/24 6000

01-22-2024, 10:25 AM	#5
BlackbeastSS2 Drives: 2019 Camaro 1LE Shock Candy Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Garage Posts: 1,757	I upgraded my factory heads with Katechs help. I sent them my factory heads because I wanted my build to be number matching still. But don’t care anymore because of my mods have out grown that thought long ago. I got Katech to port the heads in and out, plus hand porting them, new valve job, and got the heads decked. I got them to install my double springs, and smith brothers trunnion kit. (BTR push rods). I went with LS7 performance lifters. I admit I should have went with Johnson Lifters but didn’t. __________________ LT4 1.7 Supercharger snout ported & Meth 103 Katech TB, KATECH Custom Heads, DSX In-line fuel TSP Headers, Spec P Super Twin Clutch, TSP EL C7 CAM Diamond Piston & Manley Rods, Roto Fab Big Gulp BTR Push Rods,LS7 Lifters, ARP, FI Chiller, Kirkey Seats SJM Line Lock, Hurst Pistol Grip. 747/739 RWHP street tune - 821/794 RWHP track tune 101 octane. 2014 Mini Cooper countryman S All4 M6 daily driver

01-22-2024, 08:07 PM	#8
KL01 Drives: Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 61	I wanted to go all out on the heads. I saw Prays recent post on built bottom end with stock heads failure. Really trying to avoid that. I did get a quote for 2400 for stainless exhaust valve, bronze valve guides, cnc port/polish, hot tank, different seats, mill/decking and new springs. Don't really have a budget in mind, I just don't want the heads to fail me and cause a bigger prob. __________________ 2019 2SS D1X/CAM/METH/DROP-INS 800whp on 93/ 890whp/670tq C16

01-22-2024, 10:00 AM	#3
Katech_Mike Drives: 2015 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan Posts: 249	It depends on what you're trying to do. We offer a CNC service that adds quite a bit of CFM to the factory heads. You can switch to Ferrea hollow stem intake valves and inconel exhaust valves with a BTR dual spring kit and still be in the $2,200 range for fully ported OEM castings. Aftermarket castings are going to be $4,000+ typically.

01-22-2024, 12:52 PM	#6
Stefano Drives: 6th Gen NicKey Camaro & others. Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Loves Park, Illinois Posts: 492	The factory LT4 heads, properly set up will support serious power. Here is an L8T with Frankenstien ported heads. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/sc...-truck-engine/

01-23-2024, 09:01 AM	#12
KingLT1 Drives: 2016 1SS NFG A8 Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: 46804 Posts: 6,800	Stock castings are great if you spend the money to have them totally reworked from the seats forward. The thing is by the time you spend that kind of money, you can get a set of aftermarket heads with a thicker deck. On a NA application not as important as it would be on a big boost build. __________________ 2016 NFG 1SS A8 Options-2SS Leather/NPP Perf. mods-Whipple 2.9/Fuel System/Flex Fuel/103mm TB/Rotofab Big Gulp/Cat Deletes/Corsa NPP Per. times- 10.5 @ 137 w/ 1.8 60ft Full weight on 20's 1200DA

01-23-2024, 10:21 AM	#13
Katech_Mike Drives: 2015 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan Posts: 249	Seats chipping and falling out of LT1 heads are 100% related to poor valvetrain control. It's a manufactured issue due to aggressive cam lobes. We have never failed a seat, intake, or exhaust valve in an OEM LT1 casting. This is across hundreds of in house builds that we've completed since 2014. You can spend $1,200-$2,000 on porting OEM castings while reusing your intake and exhaust valves and never have a failure if you use the correct combination of parts. Spend the other 3K on a proper fuel system.

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