Looking to get heads for my ls3 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

HeavyChevySS · 04-02-2013, 02:46 PM

My Ss has 2" LTH cai and tuned. I'm looking to get a cam and heads for it also. My question is, what should I get first, cam or heads?
Also, what are the benefits of heads compared to cam benefits?
I know there's a lot of people with this kind of work done to their car so I trust the input from the forum. Thanks for your help guys HS

DuskSS · 04-02-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyChevySS

My Ss has 2" LTH cai and tuned. I'm looking to get a cam and heads for it also. My question is, what should I get first, cam or heads?
Also, what are the benefits of heads compared to cam benefits?
I know there's a lot of people with this kind of work done to their car so I trust the input from the forum. Thanks for your help guys HS

get them done at the same time. as you already have to do valvetrain work to support the cam.

you cant just plunk in a cam without doing springs retainers and seats anyway.
easier to just do them at the same time.

litle88 · 04-02-2013, 02:58 PM

I'd say do them both at the same time, I suggest WCCH and a Nightfuty cam.

I'd also suggest bumping compression up a boy to about 11.5 to one.
You cam will need supporting mods like:

- C5r timing chain
- Melling 10296 oil pump
- Brian Tooley racing Platinum springs, they have a "0" failure rate.
- If the heads are off might as well upgrade the lifters to a set of SLR Brian Tooley lifters.
- Comp trunion upgrade
- chromoly pushrods

Remember the power is in the heads and will compliment the cam. Just my .2

SPCBA · 04-02-2013, 03:17 PM

west coast heads as litle88 mention are the best....been doing it a long time. shipping might get you tho

CarlC1 · 04-02-2013, 07:26 PM

I'm pretty happy with my AI heads. As everyone has said do the heads and cam at the same time because of the supporting parts needed for the cam.

Carl

Fast6.3 · 04-02-2013, 08:41 PM

The ls3 heads flow pretty well stock if youre only doing one thing you will get the most out of the cam. that being said since your haveing to upgrade the valvetrain if you can thats the way to go heads and cam. Wcc kicks ass but the scoggins dickey cnc heads are a super value at 750 each they perform pretty good considering you will pay about twice that cor wcc ai or tea

VADER SS L99 · 04-03-2013, 09:16 AM

TSP/PRC aftermarket LS3 heads can be had for 2200 and there is no exchange so that you can sell your old ones for 500 or so. Total after selling my old heads they only cost 1700. WCCH are great but I'm not so sure they are as good as a aftermarket casting. Only thing I might have done different is having powdered metal valve guides installed rather than bronze since I reused the factory rocker arms. One thing that would help is to list your end game power goals.

Nitroman28 · 04-03-2013, 10:30 AM

I have the WCCH Stage 2 LSA heads. And seem to work great. 21st Century Muscle Cars has a good price on them.

Kelly@PCMofNC · 04-03-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlC1

I'm pretty happy with my AI heads. As everyone has said do the heads and cam at the same time because of the supporting parts needed for the cam.

Carl

We use Advanced Induction a lot as well, great results. You don't HAVE to do the heads at the same time as the cam, but if you have the extra money I'd spring for it. It does make changing the valvesprings a ton easier off the car (and most shops that P&P heads install the springs for you anyway at no charge).

Our '545' cam has been turning out great results lately. Makes 470-480rwhp with bolt ons, and around 500rwhp with ported heads. It is also a great blower cam (making 698rwhp in another LS3). Love that sound.

If you're interested in reading more about our '545' cam results, check out a few recent build blogs on our website!

LS3 '545' Cam Install 480rwhp

LS3 '545' Cam Install w/ AI Heads 498 rwhp

LS3 '545' Cam Install w/ AI Heads & TVS 2300 698 rwhp

HeavyChevySS · 04-03-2013, 11:21 AM

Thanks for all the help! Sounds like y'all really know why your talking about. I want to get as much gain possible naturally aspirated.
So with what I have now, plus a set of good heads and a more aggressive cam (not race) what will the gains be for me? I wanna get anywhere from 6-700hp. It is a street car and ill definitely take it to the strip every now and then to spank my friends lil jap toys :p

ackeight · 04-03-2013, 11:32 AM

If you want 600hp NA you will need a stroker. Probably a 427.

VADER SS L99 · 04-03-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyChevySS

Thanks for all the help! Sounds like y'all really know why your talking about. I want to get as much gain possible naturally aspirated.
So with what I have now, plus a set of good heads and a more aggressive cam (not race) what will the gains be for me? I wanna get anywhere from 6-700hp. It is a street car and ill definitely take it to the strip every now and then to spank my friends lil jap toys :p

No way your going to get that power NA with a street car set up. Sorry but its just not gonna happen. I would say with your bolt ons + the PRC aftermarket 260cc heads and one of the bigger cams like a Night Fury or similar you could see 500-530RWHP depending on dyno. YOU could get a 454 short block to achieve 600RWHP but the cost vs doing a supercharger for the same amount of money would be greater.

LSX Camaro · 04-03-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litle88

I'd say do them both at the same time, I suggest WCCH and a Nightfuty cam.

I'd also suggest bumping compression up a boy to about 11.5 to one.
You cam will need supporting mods like:

- C5r timing chain
- Melling 10296 oil pump
- Brian Tooley racing Platinum springs, they have a "0" failure rate.
- If the heads are off might as well upgrade the lifters to a set of SLR Brian Tooley lifters.
- Comp trunion upgrade
- chromoly pushrods

Remember the power is in the heads and will compliment the cam. Just my .2

My heads are WCCH right now getting a stage 2 porting job. I also went with all BTR valvetrain components.

blake-b · 04-03-2013, 01:30 PM

I had the Stage 3 WCCH heads and they helped me make 825rwhp. I changed recently to PRC heads because of their thicker deck and 6 bolts. I am turning up the boost and during the next rebuild, I am going 6 bolt block. If I were not turning things up, I would have had no problem keeping the Stage 3s. They are awesome heads.

Richard at WCCH is a stand up guy and will treat you right.

04-02-2013, 02:46 PM	#1
HeavyChevySS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Winnipeg manitoba Posts: 21	Looking to get heads for my ls3 My Ss has 2" LTH cai and tuned. I'm looking to get a cam and heads for it also. My question is, what should I get first, cam or heads? Also, what are the benefits of heads compared to cam benefits? I know there's a lot of people with this kind of work done to their car so I trust the input from the forum. Thanks for your help guys HS

04-02-2013, 02:58 PM	#3
litle88 V8 Lounge member #2 Drives: 2001 Ws6 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Burbank,IL Posts: 6,373	I'd say do them both at the same time, I suggest WCCH and a Nightfuty cam. I'd also suggest bumping compression up a boy to about 11.5 to one. You cam will need supporting mods like: - C5r timing chain - Melling 10296 oil pump - Brian Tooley racing Platinum springs, they have a "0" failure rate. - If the heads are off might as well upgrade the lifters to a set of SLR Brian Tooley lifters. - Comp trunion upgrade - chromoly pushrods Remember the power is in the heads and will compliment the cam. Just my .2 __________________ 2001 ws6, 40k miles, Ls3 416 stroker, short block built by PER the rest by me. LPE Ls3 heads milled to 12-1 comp, FAST 102, NW 102, kooks 2", dual DMH cutouts, Magnaflow C/B, BTR cam + springs. Full UMI suspension.

04-02-2013, 03:17 PM	#4
SPCBA Drives: pleather and Chiclets Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: a line somwhere Posts: 4,206 View My Garage	west coast heads as litle88 mention are the best....been doing it a long time. shipping might get you tho __________________ the power by www.cunningham-motorsports.com the brakes by www.RacingBrake.com

04-02-2013, 07:26 PM	#5
CarlC1 Drives: 2012 Victory Red 1SS M6 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Leesport, Pa Posts: 147	I'm pretty happy with my AI heads. As everyone has said do the heads and cam at the same time because of the supporting parts needed for the cam. Carl __________________ 2012 1SS 6spd Victory Red- Rapid Dominator 2X cam, kooks 1 7/8 x 3 headers, Kooks high flow cats, Airaid intake, AI 280cc heads, 72# injectors, Vmax tb. 507 rwhp/449 max torque SOLD

04-02-2013, 08:41 PM	#6
Fast6.3 Drives: 2016 2SS coupe 2015 3LT Stingray Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: El paso texas Posts: 880 View My Garage	The ls3 heads flow pretty well stock if youre only doing one thing you will get the most out of the cam. that being said since your haveing to upgrade the valvetrain if you can thats the way to go heads and cam. Wcc kicks ass but the scoggins dickey cnc heads are a super value at 750 each they perform pretty good considering you will pay about twice that cor wcc ai or tea __________________ Ported intake manifold and throttle body kooks 2" headers no cats

04-03-2013, 09:16 AM	#7
VADER SS L99 Drives: 2013 A6 GT 5.0 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 2,909	TSP/PRC aftermarket LS3 heads can be had for 2200 and there is no exchange so that you can sell your old ones for 500 or so. Total after selling my old heads they only cost 1700. WCCH are great but I'm not so sure they are as good as a aftermarket casting. Only thing I might have done different is having powdered metal valve guides installed rather than bronze since I reused the factory rocker arms. One thing that would help is to list your end game power goals. __________________ BLK/BLK 1SS/RS Ordered 11-01-2009 Took delivery 12-22-2009. Heads/cam/converter/bolt ons. SOLD Feb 2015 to fund 6th gen LT1 SS with 8L90E.

04-03-2013, 10:30 AM	#8
Nitroman28 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS 416/4L80 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,834 View My Garage	I have the WCCH Stage 2 LSA heads. And seem to work great. 21st Century Muscle Cars has a good price on them.

04-03-2013, 11:21 AM	#10
HeavyChevySS Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Winnipeg manitoba Posts: 21	Thanks for all the help! Sounds like y'all really know why your talking about. I want to get as much gain possible naturally aspirated. So with what I have now, plus a set of good heads and a more aggressive cam (not race) what will the gains be for me? I wanna get anywhere from 6-700hp. It is a street car and ill definitely take it to the strip every now and then to spank my friends lil jap toys :p

04-03-2013, 11:32 AM	#11
ackeight Drives: 10' 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,389 View My Garage	If you want 600hp NA you will need a stroker. Probably a 427. __________________ ADM tuned 412HP/407RWTQ. Kooks 2" headers w/ cats, ADM race intake, Vmax TB, Pedders XA coilovers and ZL1 sways. 1le clone

04-03-2013, 01:30 PM	#14
blake-b Drives: 2009 ZR1 Join Date: May 2010 Location: KCMO Posts: 3,205	I had the Stage 3 WCCH heads and they helped me make 825rwhp. I changed recently to PRC heads because of their thicker deck and 6 bolts. I am turning up the boost and during the next rebuild, I am going 6 bolt block. If I were not turning things up, I would have had no problem keeping the Stage 3s. They are awesome heads. Richard at WCCH is a stand up guy and will treat you right.