Ported heads on turbo car.

[JERRYwss6]

My car is twin turbo. I plan on a cam soon.(not sure on which one yet) any recommendations? Just wanting to know if I should just wait and do it all at once or just do the cam and be done with it? Are gmpp heads any good? Or just send stock heads to get ported?

[fif_gen_powa]

How much power you're looking for? Is the block built? Stock heads can make 800-900 pretty easy with a basic turbo cam and 15+ psi

[jeff657756]

Spend money elsewhere. Stock heads are fine unless going all out IMO.

[AGP Turbo]

Ported heads are pretty low on the bang for your buck list. If you are stock short block then it's totally pointless as your pistons and rods will go long before you can see any benifit from ported heads.

[dreksnot]

Originally Posted by jeff657756

Spend money elsewhere. Stock heads are fine unless going all out IMO.

If I were to have a do-over, I'd NOT port the heads and cam the car. You're going to lose some driveabilty, comfort, economy (not to mention $$$), unless you're looking to shoot over 1,000rwhp and above. With the stock cam and heads, just dial up the boost to compensate and be happy.

But, when you're reading to forge the motor - go all out!

[PostNup]

Yep - not enough pros vs the cons, unless for (or in prep for) an all out build.

That being said though, when that time comes for me... I will be LSA heads. Different casting process, thicker deck, much stronger for FI applications. Just sayin'

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[JERRYwss6]

Just shooting for over 700 wheel. Stock everything right now. Not really sure how to put it but wouldn't cam and heads help make more power with less boost? Which would help motor last? Not trying to argue just trying to learn.

[fif_gen_powa]

700hp on 5psi is the same cylinder pressure as 700hp on 15psi

[dreksnot]

Originally Posted by fif_gen_powa

700hp on 5psi is the same cylinder pressure as 700hp on 15psi

Cylinder pressure kills, not boost.

[dreksnot]

Originally Posted by JERRYwss6

Just shooting for over 700 wheel. Stock everything right now. Not really sure how to put it but wouldn't cam and heads help make more power with less boost? Which would help motor last? Not trying to argue just trying to learn.

Yes. But IMO it's not worth the money and time tuning. Been there.....

[dreksnot]

Originally Posted by PostNup

Yep - not enough pros vs the cons, unless for (or in prep for) an all out build.

That being said though, when that time comes for me... I will be LSA heads. Different casting process, thicker deck, much stronger for FI applications. Just sayin'

Good luck with whatever you decide.

If you're really itching to spend some money on the upper part of the motor, here's a great bang-for-the-buck avenue (as stated above). Other route is to build the stock LS3 heads up with a BTR kit to allow for higher RPM (not necessary for the power band of the TT motor though). And, LS9 head gaskets, and ARP head bolts - to keep those heads tight when upping the boost.

[fif_gen_powa]

So a completely stock ls3 on boost can make 700 no problem

But, now we are just talking peak numbers. I have two friend who both have agp TT ls3 camaros on e85. One is untouched ls3 motor/stock cam/stock everything the other has a large cam and valve springs, the cars make 815 and 830.

The difference is the car making 815 has stock cam power drops off over 5500 and the car with the cam/springs making 830 carries peak power past 5500 rpm all the way to 6500.

Even though peak numbers are similar I'd bet a large amount of money on the cam car to walk away up top pretty hard in a race

[RealQuick]

I think ported heads will definitely improve your power/tq output more so with boost than N/A. I went this route. If I could do it again, I would have held off... not because I didn't believe that they contribute to the power #'s, but because if a piston let's go the head probably goes in the trash. Now if I had a forged bottom end, I'd say all in!

[racesloth]

650rwhp should not be a problem for the stock block and 93 octane. Around 700rwhp and you are in the area where detonation starts to come into play depending on octane. I have had ADM tell me staying around 620rwhp is a very safe spot for the stock block.

I myself am going with the LSA heads (basic home porting) and better valves - just beacause of the extra strength provided by the LSA casting. Because when I return to the States - I know I will be turning up the wick. Also using 50/50 meth/H2O for cooling and detanation control rather than power. If I come out at 680-700rwhp - I will be happy for the rest of my time in the UK.

I am already NA cammed with a Vengeance Racing VSRPII - but am changing to the BTR PD Stg1 cam - to take advantage of the less intense lobes/easier on the valve train (I am getting tired of the valvetrain noise at 54yrs). I am also interested in how the cam and lifters look when they come out (it is from the time when comp was having material issues) and the comp trunion upgrade wear. I will document this. The BTR cam is ground on the best Cammotion 6220 core, along with new LS7 lifters, new replacement BTR .660 Plat springs (current springs been in 23K miles), and CHE bronze trunion bushings (from posts across many forums this also will help quiet the valvetrain). We'll see...

Cheers,