are 243 heads a direct swap?

**bpopham22** · 12-18-2010, 02:41 PM

hey guys i wanna order a set of 243's for my ls1. Are they a direct swap, or will i have have to get different length pushrods? Also if i can just change them out, how much of a power gain will i see with a stock cam? And any ideas for a very mild cam to add with these heads as well. My goal is around 375-400 rwhp with full bolt ons,nothing too crazy

**Demon_Z28** · 12-18-2010, 03:57 PM

Yes direct swap.

Heads alone won't get you to 370+ WHP, you will gain a very decent amount of torque and hp though off full exhaust and heads, I'd say close to 350 to 360whp with a tune and heads/full exhaust bolt-ons etc. A nice mild cam would compliment the use of those heads and could net you near 400whp.

**bpopham22** · 12-18-2010, 04:15 PM

Ok I can live with that,I have all my bolt ons already and a ton of suspension mods to put on that are still in the box. I just wanna make sure I'm running mid 12's. Is their anything I can beef up with those heads? Pushrods,springs? Etc.

**silver35thss** · 12-18-2010, 05:33 PM

i put the torquer v3 cam in with a tune and full true duel exhaust with cutouts and left the stock heads on. only thing i changed was i put on double valve springs, tit retainers, hardened pushrods, port ls6 oil pump, ls2 timing chain, and i dyno 402 rwhp,, the 243 heads if ported should get you with a good cam to 420. fast 102 intake and tb and 430 is possible.. thats my next step ,, heads and intake

**bpopham22** · 12-18-2010, 06:31 PM

Well the problem with me is a bigger cam=a stall so I think I can live with 360 ish to the wheels

**Hanzy347** · 12-18-2010, 07:17 PM

With those heads and stock stall look into the 04 ls6 cam that way youl be good on springs. Get a pushrod checker to make shure of your length and get hardend push rods.

**bpopham22** · 12-19-2010, 09:56 AM

How much of a gain would i get with an ls6 cam? And does anyone know the specs of an ls6 cam?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 12-19-2010, 10:00 AM

If you want to run mid-12's all you need is a good tire and bolt-ons...no head/cam work

**bpopham22** · 12-19-2010, 10:22 AM

Well I've got some 295 bfg kdw2's on the way,full bolt ons and rear suspension. Just wanna make sure Ive got a lil more HP than bolt ons

**Hanzy347** · 12-19-2010, 07:17 PM

02-04 ls6 camshaft 204/218 - 0.555/0.551- 117.5 will work with the springs on the ls6 heads. Thats what im runnin on stock stall for now!

**Demon_Z28** · 12-19-2010, 10:10 PM

I run a very mild 224r cam w/ LS6 heads and full exhaust.

No Cut out

http://www.youtube.com/user/98DemonZ.../0/vVeWTbjVNHY

Cut out

http://www.youtube.com/user/98DemonZ.../6/9L_SSqSOwDM

**35th-ANV-SS** · 12-20-2010, 05:43 AM

I don't think installing a cam that is as mild as a LS6 cam would be worth the effort as far as HP/TQ gains for the cost that will be incurred, especially if you are paying someone to do the cam swap.

If you plan on doing it yourself than maybe, but I would still go bigger. People run the MS3 cam for a DD.

Being street friendly is ALL IN THE TUNE.

**bpopham22** · 12-20-2010, 09:06 AM

Is more about being stall friendly at the moment. I wanna look into the gm hot cam,maybe ill find a happy medium.

**Demon_Z28** · 12-20-2010, 11:03 AM

a 221/221 cam would be okay with a stall, I pulled out 378whp and 369 torque with ls6 heads and a 221/221 561 lift 114+4 LSA. through a 6 speed, so an auto would be high 360 to low 370whp with a tune. and it's a really good driveable cam. trust me I know.

**Firebirdjones** · 12-20-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by bpopham22

Is more about being stall friendly at the moment. I wanna look into the gm hot cam,maybe ill find a happy medium.

To be stall friendly the LS6 is going to be one of your best choices. Since you are doing heads, the cam swap labor shouldn't be that much more trouble.
If you already have the LS6 intake, then along with the heads and cam, some headers and exhaust with a tune, the LS6 setup generally puts down 370+ rwhp, but dyno's vary.
Bottom line is it'll drive like a stocker, idle like a stocker, gas mileage like a stocker, pass emissions, and run easy 12's at 112+ mph. If that's enough to satisfy it's probably the setup for you.

Even this setup though, just as any stock LS motor, will benefit greatly with a stall converter.

**wooddaniel** · 12-20-2010, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

To be stall friendly the LS6 is going to be one of your best choices. Since you are doing heads, the cam swap labor shouldn't be that much more trouble.
If you already have the LS6 intake, then along with the heads and cam, some headers and exhaust with a tune, the LS6 setup generally puts down 370+ rwhp, but dyno's vary.
Bottom line is it'll drive like a stocker, idle like a stocker, gas mileage like a stocker, pass emissions, and run easy 12's at 112+ mph. If that's enough to satisfy it's probably the setup for you.

Even this setup though, just as any stock LS motor, will benefit greatly with a stall converter.

+1. I had a Yank 3600 stall in my auto WS6 with ported stock heads and it put down decent numbers, like 370 RWHP with a baby cam(Not much bigger than LS6). It ran low 12s @112-113 easy and had more in it.(2.0 Crappy 60 FT time) 243s and an LS6 cam you should be about where I was.

I hear a lot of good things about 224 cams too, if I was going to have the heads off I would go ahead and put a bigger than LS6 cam in it.

**bpopham22** · 12-20-2010, 05:09 PM

Yea that's all I'm looking for right now,just enough for mid to low 12's. That will eat just about everything in my lil town. And acting like stock is exactly what i want right now. Then ill save up for a motor build for my procharger dream setup.

**Demon_Z28** · 12-20-2010, 06:06 PM

I trapped 114mph with the 221 cam and LS6 heads on a 2.1 60 foot bogging off the line. (6 Speed)

Wonder what the 224r cam will do

**Firebirdjones** · 12-20-2010, 06:15 PM

That's decent. My wifes 6 speed car went 111+ mph with just an LS6 cam, LS6 intake, and headers. Still running stock 3.42's, stock heads and stock catback. No weight removed, 3,750 with me in it.
I squeaked it into the 12's on stock rubber with lazy 2.2 60 foot times, but I was purposely being easy on it. DA was around ~2,000.