Opinions on aftermarket Cylinder Heads - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

S3XPanther · 12-15-2011, 01:05 PM

So I'm shooting for a spring/summer heads/cam setup for my L99 and I wanted to get your opinions on the use of aftermarket heads.

I recently found these PRC heads being offered from TSP:

http://www.texas-speed.com/p-3200-pr...der-heads.aspx

TSP claims that they flow better than a ported GM LS3 head and can therefore produce 40hp more than ported OEM heads.

I'd like to know if anyone is currently running these on their car, and your thoughts. I'm a little hesitant because I always felt that the quality of the OEM casting was superior to an aftermarket duplicate, but, maybe I'm wrong. After all, TSP and PRC are pretty well known.

Thanks guys.

Lonnie@Texas-Speed · 12-15-2011, 03:58 PM

These heads are relatively new to the market, but are already making some big waves! They flow the big air like the ported GM LS3 castings, but through a 12cc smaller than stock intake runner, which equals VELOCITY! That velocity is power! Also, we laid over the valve angle slightly which helped us get about .040" better than stock piston to valve clearance (before any milling), whilst starting at 68cc chamber volume rather than the 70cc you get from the GM heads out of the box.

So more compression, more power, and better piston to valve clearance are standard options here! Of course we expect people to get more aggressive on cam selection with that extra clearance we've provided, or they can run the more mild duration camshafts and mill the heads some and get better compression!

Let us know if we can help with your combo!

S3XPanther · 12-15-2011, 04:29 PM

So what's the biggest cam you could run with these, Matt?

Lonnie@Texas-Speed · 12-15-2011, 04:40 PM

On the intake side, you could get away with as big as the 239 LSK lobe on a 110 ICL. Not to say that is the lobe we prefer, but it is about as aggressive in the low lift numbers as we've tested with these for clearance.

There will be people who will run bigger on these and swear they fit (much like some of our competitor's cathedral port max effort cams that "clear" but in reality have well under .050" PtoV on stock long-blocks), but this is as big as we will recommend for clearance.

Lonnie@Texas-Speed · 12-15-2011, 04:41 PM

If it's my car and my money, I wouldn't go huge on cam, but rather run a little more duration and mill for some added compression to make it a better and more well-rounded combo!

AG454 · 12-15-2011, 08:17 PM

Matt, what would you recommend for compression for these heads with the LG-G6X3 cam? It is somewhere around 235/245 ; 642/608; 111 LSA.

S3XPanther · 12-15-2011, 08:26 PM

Good question ^

S3XPanther · 12-15-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG383

Matt, what would you recommend for compression for these heads with the LG-G6X3 cam? It is somewhere around 235/245 ; 642/608; 111 LSA.

Or a Livernois 2R Max cam.

Unreal · 12-16-2011, 08:43 AM

Texas Speed makes good heads. I have their 285CC LS7 heads on my car and I'm happy with them.

Lonnie@Texas-Speed · 12-16-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AG383

Matt, what would you recommend for compression for these heads with the LG-G6X3 cam? It is somewhere around 235/245 ; 642/608; 111 LSA.

I guess the question is "How much more piston to valve clearance than you have now do you want to have?" That cam on a stock LS3 long-block will have some very very tight clearance. The few we've seen in person for head swaps had eye brows on pistons already. So if it were me, I would not mill them more than .005" or so. You need all the clearance you can get, honestly. The 68cc chambers out of the box with GM MLS gaskets will net you about 10.8:1 static compression, which is a slight bump up from stock.

Lonnie@Texas-Speed · 12-16-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S3XPanther

Or a Livernois 2R Max cam.

I'd need some specs on this one to make a recommendation.

S3XPanther · 12-16-2011, 05:07 PM

Sorry Matt.

235/242 .603"/.618" LSA 114 for the Livernois 2R Max.

Lonnie@Texas-Speed · 12-16-2011, 05:10 PM

You're in pretty much the same boat as AG383 above. Did you (and anybody else running these camshafts) ever check piston to valve clearance? I'm somewhat shocked that 5th gen owners are running this tight of clearance in their combos and not raising cane about it!

S3XPanther · 12-16-2011, 05:10 PM

Also Matt, what if you're running the LG cam in an L99 (obviously with an LS3 conv.)? The L99 pistons already have a relief cut on the pistons.

12-15-2011, 01:05 PM	#1
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	Opinions on aftermarket Cylinder Heads So I'm shooting for a spring/summer heads/cam setup for my L99 and I wanted to get your opinions on the use of aftermarket heads. I recently found these PRC heads being offered from TSP: http://www.texas-speed.com/p-3200-pr...der-heads.aspx TSP claims that they flow better than a ported GM LS3 head and can therefore produce 40hp more than ported OEM heads. I'd like to know if anyone is currently running these on their car, and your thoughts. I'm a little hesitant because I always felt that the quality of the OEM casting was superior to an aftermarket duplicate, but, maybe I'm wrong. After all, TSP and PRC are pretty well known. Thanks guys. __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

12-15-2011, 04:29 PM	#3
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	So what's the biggest cam you could run with these, Matt? __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

12-15-2011, 08:17 PM	#6
AG454 I am not "Fast & Furious" Drives: 2010 Camaro LSX454 1LE Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Greeley Colorado Posts: 1,040 View My Garage	Matt, what would you recommend for compression for these heads with the LG-G6X3 cam? It is somewhere around 235/245 ; 642/608; 111 LSA. __________________ The day I take a bend too fast Judgement that could be my last I'll be wiped right off the slate Don't wait up 'cause I'll be late, I'll be late

12-15-2011, 08:26 PM	#7
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	Good question ^ __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

12-16-2011, 08:43 AM	#9
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	Texas Speed makes good heads. I have their 285CC LS7 heads on my car and I'm happy with them. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

12-15-2011, 03:58 PM	#2
Lonnie@Texas-Speed Drives: 2010 Camaro - BIW Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 198	These heads are relatively new to the market, but are already making some big waves! They flow the big air like the ported GM LS3 castings, but through a 12cc smaller than stock intake runner, which equals VELOCITY! That velocity is power! Also, we laid over the valve angle slightly which helped us get about .040" better than stock piston to valve clearance (before any milling), whilst starting at 68cc chamber volume rather than the 70cc you get from the GM heads out of the box. So more compression, more power, and better piston to valve clearance are standard options here! Of course we expect people to get more aggressive on cam selection with that extra clearance we've provided, or they can run the more mild duration camshafts and mill the heads some and get better compression! Let us know if we can help with your combo!

12-15-2011, 04:40 PM	#4
Lonnie@Texas-Speed Drives: 2010 Camaro - BIW Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 198	On the intake side, you could get away with as big as the 239 LSK lobe on a 110 ICL. Not to say that is the lobe we prefer, but it is about as aggressive in the low lift numbers as we've tested with these for clearance. There will be people who will run bigger on these and swear they fit (much like some of our competitor's cathedral port max effort cams that "clear" but in reality have well under .050" PtoV on stock long-blocks), but this is as big as we will recommend for clearance.

12-15-2011, 04:41 PM	#5
Lonnie@Texas-Speed Drives: 2010 Camaro - BIW Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 198	If it's my car and my money, I wouldn't go huge on cam, but rather run a little more duration and mill for some added compression to make it a better and more well-rounded combo!

12-16-2011, 05:07 PM	#12
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	Sorry Matt. 235/242 .603"/.618" LSA 114 for the Livernois 2R Max. __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

12-16-2011, 05:10 PM	#13
Lonnie@Texas-Speed Drives: 2010 Camaro - BIW Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 198	You're in pretty much the same boat as AG383 above. Did you (and anybody else running these camshafts) ever check piston to valve clearance? I'm somewhat shocked that 5th gen owners are running this tight of clearance in their combos and not raising cane about it!

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