Has anyone ever...Heads - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Sfitz17 · 03-08-2016, 02:37 AM

Has anyone ever done Ported Heads on a L99 (or a LS3) without doing a cam or doing the porting before getting a cam? Obviously I know the cam is gonna be favored for its performance, but I am specifically looking for porting numbers or projections...

USAFS197 · 03-08-2016, 04:09 AM

I think the flat rate or at least expectation of power when it comes to ported stock heads is something along the lines of 20-30hp.

HOJO · 03-08-2016, 09:41 AM

+1 ^^^
I think it was closer to the 20 mark than 30 IIRC. Not worth doing when you consider the time and money vs gain. Now it's a differnet story if your going to pull it apart to do a cam, might as well tear it a little further apart and port.

There are those that say by the time you pay for porting and a new valve job you can purchase a much better set of heads that will flow way better. Sell your old ones and recoupe a portion of the money. Just a thought, do what you are most comfortable with.

Ghost52 · 03-08-2016, 02:55 PM

How much power would you expect by adding something like the Trick Flow 255 heads to a cam'd setup?

christianchevell · 03-08-2016, 05:39 PM

the trick flows require..... different than most things for doing heads there is a guy on here with a 1le who did a set while ago you should talk to him I think he also did Johnson lifters or something and had to get the correct length pushrods because the angle of the valves and the lifters, etc.... of comparisons I have seen you have to spend a lot more to get better than stock ported cnc GMPP heads...and then the gains ....well 1000$ for maybe 10 h.p.......? that's not a great return. you will have to search on comparisons online I have before and found some.......

here is one you may be interested in......

http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...-and-cam-test/

KW Baraka · 03-10-2016, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sfitz17

Has anyone ever done Ported Heads on a L99 (or a LS3) without doing a cam or doing the porting before getting a cam?.....

The stock heads are far from the weak link (power-wise) on the LS3.....the stock cam is far more challenged. As a matter of fact, it's the heads on all the LS engines, that make them superior over the old small-block engines.

Tests that I've seen in various publications showed that ported head only swaps gained very little power with the stock cam in a LS3 engine.....roughly 10-15 HP.

Many tests and forum reports show that cam/valve spring only swaps can result in a 50 to 75 HP gain.

Heads normally don't result in power gains until mated with a performance cam.

KW

KW Baraka · 03-10-2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianchevell

.........here is one you may be interested in......

http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...-and-cam-test/

Yep....one of the tests that I've seen

KW

Ghost52 · 03-11-2016, 08:44 AM

http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...-and-cam-test/

Great read.
The plan is to do the LS3 conversion along with cam/springs. You just have the itch to do more when you have it all apart.. Thats why I have started contemplating HEADs and a TC. It then becomes a balance of HP gain and $$$. I currently have Long tubes, CAI and a gear change.

USAFS197 · 03-12-2016, 04:12 AM

I personally think you'd be much happier with a well spec'd VVT cam than doing an LS3 conversion, these days.

JD_Alaska · 03-12-2016, 09:32 AM

^^^^^+1 I'm of the same opinion

booboo37 · 03-14-2016, 05:10 AM

What are the stock numbers on the heads...?? 823 ?? 821 ??

03-08-2016, 02:37 AM	#1
Sfitz17 Drives: 2014 Camaro SS Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Florida Posts: 58	Has anyone ever...Heads Has anyone ever done Ported Heads on a L99 (or a LS3) without doing a cam or doing the porting before getting a cam? Obviously I know the cam is gonna be favored for its performance, but I am specifically looking for porting numbers or projections...

03-08-2016, 04:09 AM	#2
USAFS197 Drives: 2018 Audi TT RS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 1,915	I think the flat rate or at least expectation of power when it comes to ported stock heads is something along the lines of 20-30hp. __________________ 2018 Audi TT ▊RS 2.4X 0-60, 1.6X 60', 120+mph 1/8th, 4.XX 60-130, 150+mph traps on 255/35/18 R888R tires on the street (unprepped). 2019 Audi RS3 About as fast as the TT RS 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Sold 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Sold 2019 Corvette Z06 Sold 2021 Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Sold

03-08-2016, 05:39 PM	#5
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Manual,DM exhaust,CRT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,587 View My Garage	the trick flows require..... different than most things for doing heads there is a guy on here with a 1le who did a set while ago you should talk to him I think he also did Johnson lifters or something and had to get the correct length pushrods because the angle of the valves and the lifters, etc.... of comparisons I have seen you have to spend a lot more to get better than stock ported cnc GMPP heads...and then the gains ....well 1000$ for maybe 10 h.p.......? that's not a great return. you will have to search on comparisons online I have before and found some....... here is one you may be interested in...... http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...-and-cam-test/ __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data, Carbon, Nav, RotoFab Dry CAI, Elite x2, Borla ATK, Driveshaft shop

03-12-2016, 04:12 AM	#9
USAFS197 Drives: 2018 Audi TT RS Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Navarre, Florida Posts: 1,915	I personally think you'd be much happier with a well spec'd VVT cam than doing an LS3 conversion, these days. __________________ 2018 Audi TT ▊RS 2.4X 0-60, 1.6X 60', 120+mph 1/8th, 4.XX 60-130, 150+mph traps on 255/35/18 R888R tires on the street (unprepped). 2019 Audi RS3 About as fast as the TT RS 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE Sold 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Sold 2019 Corvette Z06 Sold 2021 Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody Sold

03-08-2016, 09:41 AM	#3
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 874	+1 ^^^ I think it was closer to the 20 mark than 30 IIRC. Not worth doing when you consider the time and money vs gain. Now it's a differnet story if your going to pull it apart to do a cam, might as well tear it a little further apart and port. There are those that say by the time you pay for porting and a new valve job you can purchase a much better set of heads that will flow way better. Sell your old ones and recoupe a portion of the money. Just a thought, do what you are most comfortable with.

03-08-2016, 02:55 PM	#4
Ghost52 Drives: SW 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: DFW North Posts: 76	How much power would you expect by adding something like the Trick Flow 255 heads to a cam'd setup?

03-11-2016, 08:44 AM	#8
Ghost52 Drives: SW 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: DFW North Posts: 76	http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...-and-cam-test/ Great read. The plan is to do the LS3 conversion along with cam/springs. You just have the itch to do more when you have it all apart.. Thats why I have started contemplating HEADs and a TC. It then becomes a balance of HP gain and $$$. I currently have Long tubes, CAI and a gear change.

03-12-2016, 09:32 AM	#10
JD_Alaska Drives: 2013 Camaro SS Coupe L99 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: North Pole Alaska Posts: 393 View My Garage	^^^^^+1 I'm of the same opinion

03-14-2016, 05:10 AM	#11
booboo37 Drives: ls3 Mustang Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 173	What are the stock numbers on the heads...?? 823 ?? 821 ??