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Old 09-02-2020, 03:48 PM   #1
MechMan
 
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LS3 Head Recommendations

I am planning a LS3 build and I had a set of heads I was looking into but now I am not so sure. I was looking a t the Chevy Performance CNC heads but now I am not so sure. I started thinking maybe I should just pickup a pair of stock heads and have them ported and milled but then I thought maybe I should just go big and get a set of something from a company like Frankenstein. I am am keeping it stock cubes and looking to be around 500-550 crank HP. Not married to the number just something i am shooting for. No boost at least not for the foreseeable future. I just am looking for the best heads for my application with the possibility to grow. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Old 09-02-2020, 08:45 PM   #2
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Look at GPI or Texas Speed they have nice products, Katech as a good program for stock heads as well, Frankenstein are nice but ouch the price tag.
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Old 09-03-2020, 01:52 AM   #3
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GMPP do a kit of CNC heads and their "hot cam" - they claim 50 hp increase; coupled with some long tubes and a decent intake system this should get you somewhere near where you want to be and she'll still be very streetable.
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Old 09-03-2020, 05:53 AM   #4
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I went with a set of Frankenstein heads and am very pleased. Prior to that I had my factory heads ported.
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Old 09-03-2020, 06:47 AM   #5
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Wilkies performance. Smaller shop great prices and reviews. Also watch Richard Holdner on youtube. Prolly the best source of back to back same motor same day Dyno test out there. He taught me a lot on What stock heads will do.
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Old 09-03-2020, 01:40 PM   #6
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I already have the Cam. Its the Cam Motion Titan 3
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Old 09-03-2020, 02:07 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clarkstar View Post
I went with a set of Frankenstein heads and am very pleased. Prior to that I had my factory heads ported.
Soooooooo Frankenstein heads enjoy pepperoni pizza too? I must say you treat them well
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Old 09-03-2020, 03:09 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2015ghost View Post
Wilkies performance. Smaller shop great prices and reviews. Also watch Richard Holdner on youtube. Prolly the best source of back to back same motor same day Dyno test out there. He taught me a lot on What stock heads will do.
Yep, Richard Holdener has some fantastic videos. That guy's head is just filled with knowledge. He's a part of that Freiburger, Finnegan, Steve Brule and Steve Dulcich @ Westech crew. The best part is that he listens to the commenters and will consider that for new tests as long as he has part access. He just pumps out the videos too, as he has an absolute butt ton of saved data from years past. Very good stuff.

As for head recommendations, it really depends on what your budget is. If you need a budget head there is GPI, Katech, or TSP for porting services using your existing heads. Or you can go all out and buy the best and have LS heads for life such as Frankenstein, Mast Black Label, AFR, Dart, WCCH, Trick Flow & World. Somewhere in the middle of the road is TEA, PRC, GMPP, etc. Obviously that is a lot of quality heads to choose from, which is where it pays to start searching for some of the Head Shootout videos. I think Richard Holdener has a square port LS head comparison and you can also find some at nearly all of the big online engine magazines, such as Hotrod.com.
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Old 09-04-2020, 08:14 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by InFiD3ViL View Post
Yep, Richard Holdener has some fantastic videos. That guy's head is just filled with knowledge. He's a part of that Freiburger, Finnegan, Steve Brule and Steve Dulcich @ Westech crew. The best part is that he listens to the commenters and will consider that for new tests as long as he has part access. He just pumps out the videos too, as he has an absolute butt ton of saved data from years past. Very good stuff.

As for head recommendations, it really depends on what your budget is. If you need a budget head there is GPI, Katech, or TSP for porting services using your existing heads. Or you can go all out and buy the best and have LS heads for life such as Frankenstein, Mast Black Label, AFR, Dart, WCCH, Trick Flow & World. Somewhere in the middle of the road is TEA, PRC, GMPP, etc. Obviously that is a lot of quality heads to choose from, which is where it pays to start searching for some of the Head Shootout videos. I think Richard Holdener has a square port LS head comparison and you can also find some at nearly all of the big online engine magazines, such as Hotrod.com.
This is a ground up build so I am sourcing everything.
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Old 09-06-2020, 12:42 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MechMan View Post
I am planning a LS3 build and I had a set of heads I was looking into but now I am not so sure. I was looking a t the Chevy Performance CNC heads but now I am not so sure.....
I passed on those heads a long time ago. Intake ports are way too big for the flow they produce.

For a NA LS3, any decent ported or aftermarket head with a 260cc intake port is enough.

I have AFR Mongoose heads on my stroked LS3 and Texas Speed PRC heads on my H/C LS3.

Best of luck!

KW
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Old 09-07-2020, 11:09 AM   #11
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For power increase from what I have seen, and told by a top shop, heads will be in 10-15 rwhp range, more with bigger cam. So see if $$ of heads are worth it. I say that to as your crank ho range is what my car does, and I have a stage one cam, tune, Cai, shortys and catback with cold air scoop. Not a big barn burner for sure.
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