Head Info Needed

[Bama99z]

Good evening everyone, Looking for a little info please. Trying to find out the 214 & 243 heads will be a good upgrave over my stock 853's? Will they fit ok without any modifications? What gain's over stock will it be? Or would i be better of saving up for good aftermarket heads?Any help would be greatly appreciated. Just looking for a little more horses if you know what I mean.

[mark21742]

a stock for stock head swap won't give you any big gains. the 241 heads are the updated version if the 853's with the biggest difference being the valve cover bolt pattern. to save some money you can pickup a used set of 241's or 243's and get them ported/polished and milled.
but if you do you also need the newer center bolt valve covers and coil brackets

[c5z28]

a stock for stock head swap won't give you any big gains. the 241 heads are the updated version if the 853's with the biggest difference being the valve cover bolt pattern. to save some money you can pickup a used set of 241's or 243's and get them ported/polished and milled.
but if you do you also need the newer center bolt valve covers and coil brackets

The 853 heads did not come with the center bolt valve covers those were on the 97-98 cars (908 heads I believe). 241 heads-no gain, supposedly about 15rwhp with stock 243's. You will need pushrods, head bolts, and head gaskets bare minimum to do a headswap. You may look into your stockers being milled down since the cam won't be pulling in all the extra air from a port.

[SOMbitch]

243's are the LS6/2 head and are the best GM casting for a stock cube motor. Heads alone will get you around 15hp as stated above. You can pick up 243's pretty easy on Corvette Forum.