CNC Heads? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

christianchevell · 08-02-2016, 06:40 PM

With the costs I would stay stock, if you really look at comparisons on stock vs CNC the factory CNC is not always beaten by paying more to others even on a big bore stroker nutso build. You have to figure in the cost of head gaskets, new torque to yield bolts, etc.... and setting up the correct preload again and springs .... which just because they are ported does not mean they will give you good springs for your cam or want a core....

I went the cheap way some day If richer I will go Small bore ls7 via Mast....

Anthony @ LG Motorsports · 08-02-2016, 07:32 PM

There is a lot of power in the heads, just a matter of finding it.

Now that being said the LS3 head is an incredible head right out of the box and for most, stock heads are more than enough to get them where they need to go. However an engine is only going to make as much power as its most restrictive part will allow it.

So if you have the cam, have the intake, have the exhaust and your at a dead end, then yes a GOOD head porter can make all the difference in the world.

As you have probably noticed there are not a lot of aftermarket castings out there for the LS3, and there is a reason....for the most part you don't really need one. Now there is that entire boosted range, and for some a 6 bolt casting is going to be needed for just clamping forces. Again...NA guys or low boost, normal heads are going to be just fine.

Flow numbers; far to often everyone looks at flow numbers and says that is the only thing you need. One head says 300 cfm, and the other says 290 cfm so the 300 is going to make more power right? Not always. You have to account in for air velocity and cylinder filling. Doesn't matter if the opening is huge, if the air is not moving fast enough you will never have good filling, good power, and good throttle response. This not something that you will see posted on sale ads, or in data sheets but something a good porter is going to know how to do with hrs of testing and research on the bench and on the dyno.

Valves, angles, and seats. Again more power to be had here to, and you have to have someone that knows the heads, and has done the research to know how to cut them. Different valves have different back angles on them and different cut patterns and will allow more flow. You might see another 10 cfm from just changing valve manufactures or even a different model of valve.

We have been very strict with who does our heads and we have been trusting the same guy for a very long time and have worked with him on the street cars, and the race cars alike. One of the reasons he does most of the LS race engines for the pro cars like our race cars over the years.

Would I say everyone is going to see a huge gain in heads, no but it is something to consider in the over all build of the car.

Lastly...there is not a lot of material in doing ported heads, but there is a lot of time. What you are mostly paying for is the time for research and the knowledge of a good head porter. That can mean the difference of a 18 rwhp gain compared to a 30 rwhp gain in heads.

I would be happy to go over any of our offerings in heads.

Rtjewell · 08-04-2016, 01:17 PM

I had similar mods: 2015 1LE with TSP 1 7/8 LT headers, cat delete into stock NPP, Roto-Fab CAI and 236/242 cam. Car made 464rwhp / 420rwtq. Recently had stock heads CNC ported. Car gained 38rwhp bringing it to 502rwhp / 442rwtq. Happy with the outcome

Jkelley3209 · 08-10-2016, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtjewell

I had similar mods: 2015 1LE with TSP 1 7/8 LT headers, cat delete into stock NPP, Roto-Fab CAI and 236/242 cam. Car made 464rwhp / 420rwtq. Recently had stock heads CNC ported. Car gained 38rwhp bringing it to 502rwhp / 442rwtq. Happy with the outcome

See you're from Baytown. Im in Deer Park right down the road. Mind me asking where you got your heads ported? Thinkin of having this done fairly soon. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rtjewell · 08-11-2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkelley3209

See you're from Baytown. Im in Deer Park right down the road. Mind me asking where you got your heads ported? Thinkin of having this done fairly soon. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cam, heads and all tuning have been done at KP Racing. Great folks to work with. They used LME in Houston to do the porting.

Taco Time · 08-11-2016, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkelley3209

See you're from Baytown. Im in Deer Park right down the road. Mind me asking where you got your heads ported? Thinkin of having this done fairly soon. Thanks in advance.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have PRC 260 heads. I'd be interested in trading for your stock heads (and some cash). They have maybe 5k miles on them.
KP is who does my work as well.

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Jkelley3209 · 08-11-2016, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco Time

I have PRC 260 heads. I'd be interested in trading for your stock heads (and some cash). They have maybe 5k miles on them.
KP is who does my work as well.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Thanks but I'm leaning more towards porting my stock ones. I am doing an LSA build and plan to get them port matched with my blower. Kind of in deeper than I want to be money wise already. So not really wanting to purchase new ones. Curious why you're wanting to go back to stock though?

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Taco Time · 08-11-2016, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jkelley3209

Thanks but I'm leaning more towards porting my stock ones. I am doing an LSA build and plan to get them port matched with my blower. Kind of in deeper than I want to be money wise already. So not really wanting to purchase new ones. Curious why you're wanting to go back to stock though?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm throwing around the idea of parting out my car, and getting it back to stock as best I can. Then trading it in.

And my motor is a 417 stroker built for boost... same miles as heads.

Just throwing out some temptation.

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1KillerSS · 08-11-2016, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco Time

I'm throwing around the idea of parting out my car, and getting it back to stock as best I can. Then trading it in.

And my motor is a 417 stroker built for boost... same miles as heads.

Just throwing out some temptation.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Dude, you just put turbos on it!?

Dibbs on the short block....

BlaqWhole · 08-12-2016, 04:01 PM

So uh, how much for ported heads that are a bolt-on job? Vendors? Let me know. Very interested.

Bo White · 08-12-2016, 09:53 PM

No pricing is allowed by sponsors here I don't think but I'll say that $1000 or so and up will take care of it depending on stage and parts.

Taco Time · 08-14-2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1KillerSS

Dude, you just put turbos on it!?

Dibbs on the short block....

I did. But I kinda have ADD with cars... I found something else I need instead.

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L99CAMA2011 · 08-16-2016, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco Time

I did. But I kinda have ADD with cars... I found something else I need instead.

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You getting a powerboat ain't you.

Taco Time · 08-17-2016, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L99CAMA2011

You getting a powerboat ain't you.

Nah. New Corvettes are what I'm drooling over.

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08-02-2016, 06:40 PM	#15
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	With the costs I would stay stock, if you really look at comparisons on stock vs CNC the factory CNC is not always beaten by paying more to others even on a big bore stroker nutso build. You have to figure in the cost of head gaskets, new torque to yield bolts, etc.... and setting up the correct preload again and springs .... which just because they are ported does not mean they will give you good springs for your cam or want a core.... I went the cheap way some day If richer I will go Small bore ls7 via Mast.... __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc

08-12-2016, 09:53 PM	#25
Bo White Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Vance Alabama Posts: 8,094	No pricing is allowed by sponsors here I don't think but I'll say that $1000 or so and up will take care of it depending on stage and parts. __________________ Retired wanna be cylinder head porter 2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter, stage 4 cam and Wilkes 11° 65cc heads Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X

08-02-2016, 07:32 PM	#16
Anthony @ LG Motorsports Drives: 1994 1LE / 2006 Z51 Corvette Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,829	There is a lot of power in the heads, just a matter of finding it. Now that being said the LS3 head is an incredible head right out of the box and for most, stock heads are more than enough to get them where they need to go. However an engine is only going to make as much power as its most restrictive part will allow it. So if you have the cam, have the intake, have the exhaust and your at a dead end, then yes a GOOD head porter can make all the difference in the world. As you have probably noticed there are not a lot of aftermarket castings out there for the LS3, and there is a reason....for the most part you don't really need one. Now there is that entire boosted range, and for some a 6 bolt casting is going to be needed for just clamping forces. Again...NA guys or low boost, normal heads are going to be just fine. Flow numbers; far to often everyone looks at flow numbers and says that is the only thing you need. One head says 300 cfm, and the other says 290 cfm so the 300 is going to make more power right? Not always. You have to account in for air velocity and cylinder filling. Doesn't matter if the opening is huge, if the air is not moving fast enough you will never have good filling, good power, and good throttle response. This not something that you will see posted on sale ads, or in data sheets but something a good porter is going to know how to do with hrs of testing and research on the bench and on the dyno. Valves, angles, and seats. Again more power to be had here to, and you have to have someone that knows the heads, and has done the research to know how to cut them. Different valves have different back angles on them and different cut patterns and will allow more flow. You might see another 10 cfm from just changing valve manufactures or even a different model of valve. We have been very strict with who does our heads and we have been trusting the same guy for a very long time and have worked with him on the street cars, and the race cars alike. One of the reasons he does most of the LS race engines for the pro cars like our race cars over the years. Would I say everyone is going to see a huge gain in heads, no but it is something to consider in the over all build of the car. Lastly...there is not a lot of material in doing ported heads, but there is a lot of time. What you are mostly paying for is the time for research and the knowledge of a good head porter. That can mean the difference of a 18 rwhp gain compared to a 30 rwhp gain in heads. I would be happy to go over any of our offerings in heads.

08-04-2016, 01:17 PM	#17
Rtjewell Drives: 2015 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Baytown, TX Posts: 6	I had similar mods: 2015 1LE with TSP 1 7/8 LT headers, cat delete into stock NPP, Roto-Fab CAI and 236/242 cam. Car made 464rwhp / 420rwtq. Recently had stock heads CNC ported. Car gained 38rwhp bringing it to 502rwhp / 442rwtq. Happy with the outcome

08-12-2016, 04:01 PM	#24
BlaqWhole Account Suspended Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 7,692	So uh, how much for ported heads that are a bolt-on job? Vendors? Let me know. Very interested.