Porting LS1 Cylinder Heads

[WS6ICK2K]

I am trying to build a LS1 on a budget and was wondering if porting the stock cylinder heads on a 00 Trans am would be worth it? Companys that will do it?

[tylerdurden1]

My first answer would be no? But, do you have a shop in your area that can even port them with flow numbers? Iam not trying to shot you down, but it seems that Patriot performance sells some reasonable priced ported heads with flow numbers that are new castings. I mean by the time you pull the heads or find the oem heads you want, and get them sent off to get ported your looking at around at a around 800.00 and thats with stock valves, verses and aftermarket company head that been ported with bigger valves for 400.00 more. Just my .02 cents

[WS6ICK2K]

I have an extra set of heads off of a 2001 ss that will fit my car. I understand what you are saying though

[MJD]

Get them ported by someone who knows what they are doing and save a few bucks by not having to buy new castings. I had mine done locally and got the following flow numbers with stock valves:

lift in ex

.100 77 65
.200 145 116
.300 199 159
.400 243 190
.500 275 210
.600 285 216

Port work was done by Creative Flow Management and ran 700 bucks. I still have stock valves.

[biga0206]

Get them ported by someone who knows what they are doing and save a few bucks by not having to buy new castings. I had mine done locally and got the following flow numbers with stock valves:

lift in ex

.100 77 65
.200 145 116
.300 199 159
.400 243 190
.500 275 210
.600 285 216

Port work was done by Creative Flow Management and ran 700 bucks. I still have stock valves.

what kind of gains did you see from that?

[MJD]

On a poor tune cam only with long tubes I had 377RWHP and 358RWTQ. My new numbers are in my sig. I had a huge gain under the curve. I picked up as much as 70RWHP and 77RWTQ through the curve. I believe the tune had a lot to do with it but the heads were still the big factor.

[INMY01TA]

What cam is in the car? Long tube headers? With a stock cam, stock manifolds you wouldn't see the gains you would with a cam and long tubes. I'd do these other mods first before pulling the heads. As for heads, for a 346 I'd go with the Texas Speed PRC 5.3 heads. http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...d=132&catid=40 $1,100ish and that's with their $290 spring kit for the cam that "should" be in their already. My .02.

[maxpit]

When GM created LS6 heads, it was based off the LS1 heads. So in all reality, all an LS6 head is, is a beefed up LS1 head. Better valves, springs, larger ports. The reason Im telling you this is because LS6's can see as much as 328+ cfm flow numbers with some decent head work. And if you could do this with the 243 casting why not your stock heads? You can still gain alot power from an LS1 by porting and polishing and replacing springs and retainers. Also maybea 3 or 5 angle valve job. All this can be done for $1000. Just be patient and do your homework. There r so many companies out there that work on LS1's and they r all competing for your business.

[bills98ta]

I ported my stock heads w/ stock bottom end, and got her running high 10's !!!
(150 dry shot)..11.2 with out the bottle !
Used a ported intake also, with long tube headers !
Now I'm porting a set of 5.3 heads & adding the 2.02 / 1.6 valves !!!