heads

**35thz28camaro** · 04-24-2008, 05:19 PM

so i am about to put a cam in my car. i was just wondering if it is worth it to get a valve job and get the heads ported? i know a guy that owns a machine shop and says that i can pick up a lot from this. he said he charges $750 for this but will do it for me for about $550, is it worth it?

**Midnight02** · 04-25-2008, 09:06 AM

It all depends on what you're trying to accomplish and how much of a budget you have to work with.

Personally, rather than spending $550 - $750 on porting the stock LS1 heads, I'd go ahead and drop $1,000 on a set of PRC ported 5.3L heads....they are a proven performer. Not to mention, you could probably sell the stockers for $50 - $100 depending on their condition....that would trim your net cost to around $900.

In my case, I went with the PRC Stage 2.5 5.3L heads milled to 60 cc and they cost me $1,032. shipped (no sense in buying the assembled heads since I just installed Comp 928 springs during my cam swap). From a power standpoint, you could reasonably expect to pick up 30+ rwhp by simply adding the heads on top of the cam and supporting mods. There are plenty of documented instances where folks have pulled even more (40 - 45 rwhp) from a quality head swap on top of the cam & bolt ons.

**dfillmore827** · 04-30-2008, 03:34 PM

The L92 heads are inexpensive and work well with a Ls1 hot cam from wut i read, 471 horsepower and 430 Lb ft. but u will need LS6 valve springs and new pushrods

**UTVols98** · 04-30-2008, 04:55 PM

L92 heads won't work with an LS1 since the bore is too small for the valves.

**rcleveland@barrick.c** · 04-30-2008, 05:24 PM

yes, it will be worth $500. Everyone always wants you to spend more money. Easy for them to spend it for you.

**BowlingSS** · 05-03-2008, 03:42 PM

I had just a mild port job for $350 on a new set of Darts. $500 for a good valve job and porting is a good price. You will probally lose low end torque if they inlarge the runners too much. That is why I went with the Darts plus I got them at a good price. I went with the 205's for my D/D.

Good luck.
Bill

**mark21742** · 05-03-2008, 09:38 PM

for $550, Id get your heads ported, aslong as your guy knows what he is doing that is a great price and for what you are doing to your motor right now they should work great. maybe later if you want to drop alot more money and build insane HP you could get after market heads... as soon as I get the time and energy (and money for the cam and stall) im going to port my stock heads

**35thz28camaro** · 05-04-2008, 05:47 AM

i decided to wait on porting the heads, i spent more than i thought doing just the ms4 cam lol, i put it in yesterday... i am still going to have the heads ported but for now i am going to run cam only

**BowlingSS** · 05-04-2008, 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by 35thz28camaro

i decided to wait on porting the heads, i spent more than i thought doing just the ms4 cam lol, i put it in yesterday... i am still going to have the heads ported but for now i am going to run cam only

I ran the cam only for a couple of years.

Bill