853 Head work

**Decadence75** · 09-01-2013, 11:46 PM

Hey guys. I am planning for a new cam and heads on my LS1 within the next 2 years and am looking for a few opinions.

While I would love to be able to afford some nice aftermarket heads it just isn't in my budget. If I were to send off my 853s to AI it would cost somewhere around 600 less than an after market casting. I am looking at the HCR219cc program. From what I gather it is within a few rwhp of AI ported 243s. So I won't waste my time trying to overpay on cores that will be ported anyway.

Instead I would like to send my existing cores to AI, have them work the 219ccHCR program on them and then install it with the LS2 profile of a Tick SNS stage 2.

I would like some opinions of those running heads that have been through the program or close to it. I am shooting for 450RWHP before I move to a larger block.

I look forward to all info and input. Thanks.

**2002ssslp** · 09-02-2013, 08:09 AM

What is your total budget for the head and cam swap and what is the complete plan for changes ?

***SMWS6TA*** · 09-02-2013, 03:12 PM

I picked up my set of used 243's for $400.

**2002ssslp** · 09-03-2013, 04:50 AM

If you don't go too crazy with the cam you can get away with a mild port and polish job and a decent three angle valve job. Remember to change the push rods and valve springs.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 09-04-2013, 06:24 AM

AIs 219cc ported 243s are way superior to their 853 219cc heads. Mainly it is because the 243 head is vastly superior to the 853 head in the design and even more when ported. If I were to spend the money I would get their ported 243s.

**Decadence75** · 09-05-2013, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by 2002ssslp

What is your total budget for the head and cam swap and what is the complete plan for changes ?

There isn't a hard limit but I would like to keep it around 2K. Later down the road I would also be upgrading the intake to a fast 102/102 setup.

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

I picked up my set of used 243's for $400.

True that the 799/243 can be picked up for around that most days, if I am looking to have them ported then the cost of buying the head and then the port work would put the total into the range of aftermarket castings.

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

AIs 219cc ported 243s are way superior to their 853 219cc heads. Mainly it is because the 243 head is vastly superior to the 853 head in the design and even more when ported. If I were to spend the money I would get their ported 243s.

Where are you getting this information from? From AI's own website the 218cc 243 program gives gains of 20-30 over stock 243s so that would come out to be 30-45 over a stock 853. While the 219cc 853 program averaged 40 over stock 853s. The 219ccHCR is advertised as 40-55 over stock which would put it within 10hp of the 226cc 243s.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 09-05-2013, 06:58 PM

More like 40-60 hp since 243s in their stock design already give about 20-30. The 226s from swapping from stock ls1 heads will net between 60-80 typically assuming you have supporting mods since as stated before stock 243s can net between 20-30. Another reason to go with 243s is you can always go and have them machined to the next size up if 218 isn't enough for you down the road. I am about max effort so to me I wouldn't even consider anything below 232. But they give you the option to grow. Just my .02 obviously it is your car so do what you would like with that information.

**Decadence75** · 09-06-2013, 08:15 PM

I'm tired of bouncing back and forth in my head about which choice to make so I think I'm just going to say to hell with it and bolt up some used 243/799s when I upgrade the cam in the next year or so. It'll be the cheapest option, give me some noticeable power gains and I can just pull them and send out to be ported sometime in the future when I have more cash to blow.

Thanks for all the input everyone. It's appreciated.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 09-08-2013, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by Decadence75

I'm tired of bouncing back and forth in my head about which choice to make so I think I'm just going to say to hell with it and bolt up some used 243/799s when I upgrade the cam in the next year or so. It'll be the cheapest option, give me some noticeable power gains and I can just pull them and send out to be ported sometime in the future when I have more cash to blow.

Thanks for all the input everyone. It's appreciated.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

**Decadence75** · 09-22-2013, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by 98TransAmWs-6

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Then you'll be glad to hear I snagged a good cheap set of 243s off e-bay. I just have to deal with a broken exhaust bolt then I can stick them on the engine and get rid of the 853s.