Adding Trick Flow Heads to Supercharged L99 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

HAMBO · 01-19-2016, 10:58 PM

In my ongoing quest to find more California legal mods, I learned that these Trick Flow ported heads are smog-approved: http://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-32610001-c01

Hard heard some mixed reviews about Trick Flow, anyone have any experience with these?

Any problems with the heads themselves aside, from what I understand there aren't yet any CA-legal cams available for gen5. If that's the case I'm guessing the gain from adding heads alone won't be worth the cost of the parts and labor (as opposed to a head and cam swap). Anyone agree / disagree? Also happy to be wrong on the no CARB-legal cams; if anyone knows of one please let me know!

PS - yes, I know you probably wouldn't get caught at the smog station with an aftermarket cam, but wanted to know whether there are any truly legal ones out there.

Thanks!

Unreal · 01-20-2016, 07:46 AM

Why not just factory ported heads? I would run those over TF. If you run a small enough cam they can't see it or even know it is in there.

smokum · 01-20-2016, 01:54 PM

GMPP cnc ported ls3 heads are hands down the best heads for the money. $1250 brand new. Sell you old ones for 500 and you into kick butt set of heads cheap.

supergt99 · 01-20-2016, 06:44 PM

Why add heads? Can't you exceed the stock block with just a supercharger? But I ran into this a few years back with a mustang that I had. The cost of doing ported heads with forced induction wasn't worth it so instead I pulled down and added 2 psi. That's my thoughts on it.

HAMBO · 01-20-2016, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately the GMPP ones (or any other ported heads, including porting your own) aren't legal in CA, which is why I was asking about the Trick Flow ones specifically.

Was thinking of dropping to a smaller pulley (pretty sure that's not legal either though). Anyways, thanks for the ideas!

bbentley14 · 01-20-2016, 07:01 PM

man you need to move california aint no fun and everything causes cancer there!!

supergt99 · 01-20-2016, 07:02 PM

Not sure if pulley is legal out that way but couldn't you just swap it back to stock pulley for inspection? Wish I could help you with the trick flow heads but I have no info

HAMBO · 01-20-2016, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergt99

Not sure if pulley is legal out that way but couldn't you just swap it back to stock pulley for inspection? Wish I could help you with the trick flow heads but I have no info

Getting a new pulley in black I'm guessing no one would even notice. There's a whole pile of "technically not legal but hard to spot" mods, but I was trying to figure out what's left to do that's actually CARB compliant. Thanks for the tip. Ya, modding out here (legally) is definitely harder than elsewhere...

supergt99 · 01-20-2016, 07:10 PM

How would they know if you had stock head ported? Ls9 cam legal?

HAMBO · 01-20-2016, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergt99

How would they know if you had stock head ported? Ls9 cam legal?

They probably wouldn't. No, swapping cams (even from L99 to an LS3 cam) is technically illegal.

supergt99 · 01-20-2016, 07:28 PM

You gotta move

HAMBO · 01-20-2016, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergt99

You gotta move

I dunno, kind of nice to have some of the highest state taxes in the country to fund an organization that tells me what kind of shorty headers I can buy.

bbentley14 · 01-20-2016, 07:42 PM

no doubt move with the quickness

tadams72 · 01-20-2016, 10:55 PM

I'm running those heads but on a NA 427. They are quality pieces and I am betting you will see more power with less boost as they are significantly better flowing than stock LS3 heads. The fact you are blown will net you better gains than a NA guy would.

That being said if you are just looking for more power do a pulley change and tune. Cheaper and easier and smog station won't know the difference anyhow. Even if they did it easy enough to revert to stock once every two years.

Travis

01-19-2016, 10:58 PM	#1
HAMBO Drives: Supercharged 2013 AGM 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 786	Adding Trick Flow Heads to Supercharged L99 In my ongoing quest to find more California legal mods, I learned that these Trick Flow ported heads are smog-approved: http://www.trickflow.com/parts/tfs-32610001-c01 Hard heard some mixed reviews about Trick Flow, anyone have any experience with these? Any problems with the heads themselves aside, from what I understand there aren't yet any CA-legal cams available for gen5. If that's the case I'm guessing the gain from adding heads alone won't be worth the cost of the parts and labor (as opposed to a head and cam swap). Anyone agree / disagree? Also happy to be wrong on the no CARB-legal cams; if anyone knows of one please let me know! PS - yes, I know you probably wouldn't get caught at the smog station with an aftermarket cam, but wanted to know whether there are any truly legal ones out there. Thanks! __________________ 2013 AGM 2SS/RS SLP TVS2300, Edge CAI, 3" Magnaflow catback, BC Racing BR series coilovers, HRE FF15's (20x10 square) with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's, GM STB, BMR front and rear sway bars and toe links, Prothane subframe bushings and front control arm inserts, JDP rear upper control arm bushings, Elite Engineering catch can. Tuned by Cunningham Motorsports. 1967 Bolero Red 396 SS/RS Convertible

01-20-2016, 07:46 AM	#2
Unreal Drives: 2006 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 5,712	Why not just factory ported heads? I would run those over TF. If you run a small enough cam they can't see it or even know it is in there. __________________ Nick Corvette Z06 -1200ish rwhp

01-20-2016, 06:51 PM	#5
HAMBO Drives: Supercharged 2013 AGM 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 786	Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately the GMPP ones (or any other ported heads, including porting your own) aren't legal in CA, which is why I was asking about the Trick Flow ones specifically. Was thinking of dropping to a smaller pulley (pretty sure that's not legal either though). Anyways, thanks for the ideas! __________________ 2013 AGM 2SS/RS SLP TVS2300, Edge CAI, 3" Magnaflow catback, BC Racing BR series coilovers, HRE FF15's (20x10 square) with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's, GM STB, BMR front and rear sway bars and toe links, Prothane subframe bushings and front control arm inserts, JDP rear upper control arm bushings, Elite Engineering catch can. Tuned by Cunningham Motorsports. 1967 Bolero Red 396 SS/RS Convertible

01-20-2016, 10:55 PM	#14
tadams72 When is enough ever... Drives: 2006 Silverado 2500HD CC/SB LBZ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Residence: Chula Vista, CA Home: Billings, MT Posts: 996 View My Garage	I'm running those heads but on a NA 427. They are quality pieces and I am betting you will see more power with less boost as they are significantly better flowing than stock LS3 heads. The fact you are blown will net you better gains than a NA guy would. That being said if you are just looking for more power do a pulley change and tune. Cheaper and easier and smog station won't know the difference anyhow. Even if they did it easy enough to revert to stock once every two years. Travis __________________ The Project: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS (ERL 427 Superdeck NA Monster) "Just like farmer engineering. Find the weak link and fix it, then find the next one." Salt Cat Racing

01-20-2016, 01:54 PM	#3
smokum Drives: 2010 2ssrs Join Date: May 2013 Location: DFW Posts: 827 View My Garage	GMPP cnc ported ls3 heads are hands down the best heads for the money. $1250 brand new. Sell you old ones for 500 and you into kick butt set of heads cheap.

01-20-2016, 06:44 PM	#4
supergt99 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: earth Posts: 288	Why add heads? Can't you exceed the stock block with just a supercharger? But I ran into this a few years back with a mustang that I had. The cost of doing ported heads with forced induction wasn't worth it so instead I pulled down and added 2 psi. That's my thoughts on it.

01-20-2016, 07:01 PM	#6
bbentley14 Drives: 2015 camaro 1ss Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: bethlehem ga Posts: 39	man you need to move california aint no fun and everything causes cancer there!!

01-20-2016, 07:02 PM	#7
supergt99 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: earth Posts: 288	Not sure if pulley is legal out that way but couldn't you just swap it back to stock pulley for inspection? Wish I could help you with the trick flow heads but I have no info

01-20-2016, 07:10 PM	#9
supergt99 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: earth Posts: 288	How would they know if you had stock head ported? Ls9 cam legal?

01-20-2016, 07:28 PM	#11
supergt99 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: earth Posts: 288	You gotta move

01-20-2016, 07:42 PM	#13
bbentley14 Drives: 2015 camaro 1ss Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: bethlehem ga Posts: 39	no doubt move with the quickness