Trick Flow GEN X 255 heads, should I mill or thinner head gasket

[13SSCamaro]

I have decided to take my N/A LS3 camaro to the next level and try to get the torque up quite a bit. Current mods and numbers are in my sig at the bottom. In the next month or so I will be adding Trick Flow GEN X 255 heads, GPI rod mod and ported intake, 850cc injectors and flex sensor for E-85. I will have both an E-85 and a 93 tune, but plan on only running hard on E-85. I would like to increase the compression but am not sure how much. The PTV issue will not be as bad with the 12 degree Trick Flow heads but still a concern. Does anyone have experience with milled GEN X heads? There has been very little info that I could find in the forums. What compression is optimum for a daily driver but occasional blasts at the 1/4 track? Any input is greatly appreciated

[zz430camaro]

I would say with a cam that size 11.25 or 11.5 would be Ok. You can mill the heads 0.030 and run the stock gasket for about 11.29 compression. Or run a cometic .045 gasket to get a better quench area plus mill the heads .025 or 0.030. I think Bo White runs a larger TSP cam with their 13 degree heads and milled his 0.030 with no issues. You can put the heads on the motor with no head gaskets and mearsue piston to valve clearance and figure back from there how much you room you have to play with (measued PTV clearance - amount milled + head gasket = new PTV clearance. The beauty of E85 is you can run high compression so if you are serious about using it, get it up to like 11.5 if you can, shit with good E85 you can probably run 12.0.

every 0.006" you mill off the heads will get you 1cc less combusion chamber volume.

[13SSCamaro]

Originally Posted by zz430camaro

I would say with a cam that size 11.25 or 11.5 would be Ok. You can mill the heads 0.030 and run the stock gasket for about 11.29 compression. Or run a cometic .045 gasket to get a better quench area plus mill the heads .025 or 0.030. I think Bo White runs a larger TSP cam with their 13 degree heads and milled his 0.030 with no issues. You can put the heads on the motor with no head gaskets and mearsue piston to valve clearance and figure back from there how much you room you have to play with (measued PTV clearance - amount milled + head gasket = new PTV clearance. The beauty of E85 is you can run high compression so if you are serious about using it, get it up to like 11.5 if you can, shit with good E85 you can probably run 12.0.

every 0.006" you mill off the heads will get you 1cc less combusion chamber volume.

Great info, thanks. 11.5 is the goal i was thinking of going for but was not sure if I could mill that much to get to 11.5. I wanted the heads milled with a valve job done before i have it pulled apart so the car isnt down too long. So measuring the PTV before would be tough. But if that ends up being the only way then i will do what is necessary

[zz430camaro]

Originally Posted by 13SSCamaro

Great info, thanks. 11.5 is the goal i was thinking of going for but was not sure if I could mill that much to get to 11.5. I wanted the heads milled with a valve job done before i have it pulled apart so the car isnt down too long. So measuring the PTV before would be tough. But if that ends up being the only way then i will do what is necessary

.030 mill and .045 gasket gets you 11.46

[13SSCamaro]

what is the minimum PTV clearance to safely have?

[zz430camaro]

Originally Posted by 13SSCamaro

what is the minimum PTV clearance to safely have?

most say 0.080 intake 0.100 exhaust

[BFASTNOTLAST]

Originally Posted by 13SSCamaro

what is the minimum PTV clearance to safely have?

Ran .035 Int and .067 Exh for a couple years, no issue and plenty of chances for it all to go bad.

[christianchevell]

Torque needs more cubes, myself I would never especially with aluminum mill heads as you down the road screw when you want to clean them up for another build taking vital material away ..aluminum pits , from antifreeze especially, and I am at 11:1 run super and have more torque than HP and used to run the old 235/239 TSP cam, torque matters, I have with a milder cam now more torque than HP and more torque than your HP ratings being stroked. But everything costs money, even spring changes to avoid valve float every 25k or so and PTV being close not so good if your rev limit is raised and you want to dog it for a long time down the road in many thousands of miles past the springs useful life. Jut some things IMO. Someday when I go big $ I am looking forward to the small bore ls7 heads I have seen on here.... And stroked versus bigger cam.... no comparison I gained all across the board on the dyno average HP and torque and its more radical with a much milder cam.

[zz430camaro]

Originally Posted by christianchevell

Torque needs more cubes, myself I would never especially with aluminum mill heads as you down the road screw when you want to clean them up for another build taking vital material away ..aluminum pits , from antifreeze especially, and I am at 11:1 run super and have more torque than HP and used to run the old 235/239 TSP cam, torque matters, I have with a milder cam now more torque than HP and more torque than your HP ratings being stroked. But everything costs money, even spring changes to avoid valve float every 25k or so and PTV being close not so good if your rev limit is raised and you want to dog it for a long time down the road in many thousands of miles past the springs useful life. Jut some things IMO. Someday when I go big $ I am looking forward to the small bore ls7 heads I have seen on here.... And stroked versus bigger cam.... no comparison I gained all across the board on the dyno average HP and torque and its more radical with a much milder cam.

Yes, if you want lots more torque you need to stroke the thing for sure. Not sure if he is willing to go that far but when you look at the cost, its not that bad.

[13SSCamaro]

Stroking it is on the table but not at this time. I want to do the heads now and do them right. I went and dropped them off at TEC in Riviera Beach this morning so they can take them apart, do some measurements and possibly a valve job if needed. He is going to measure to see how much we can safely mill and decide from there. I hope we can get the compression up a bit safely

[Schluney]

I have those heads milled .030 wth stock thickness head gaskets (can’t remember what that is off the top of my head) I run a 228/234 cam on a 93 tune.

[13SSCamaro]

Originally Posted by Schluney

I have those heads milled .030 wth stock thickness head gaskets (can’t remember what that is off the top of my head) I run a 228/234 cam on a 93 tune.

What kind of power are you making now? How do you like the heads, and any issue with the install? Are you using the stock rockers?

[Redhawt]

You have to measure deck height. I'd shoot for
.035 then choose your head gasket to get close. Trickflow heads have a thicker deck so you can mill them more aggressively and still have better than stock PTV. I'm interested in your results, please do update!


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[Schluney]

Originally Posted by 13SSCamaro

What kind of power are you making now? How do you like the heads, and any issue with the install? Are you using the stock rockers?

Haven’t had it on the dyno I have a Pat G remote tune due to no tuners Around myself in northern MN. I do run stock rockers. The only issues I had during install were forgetting to cap the holes for the coolant lines in the rear and not using sealant on the rocker bolts bolts, which causesd it to smoke. I'm at 4K miles since the swap with no issues . I don’t have anything bad to say about these heads my car sounds great and pulls very hard and smooth up to 6750.