Grant2k

I am building an iron 5.7 and have the 862 heads the truck engine came with. I don't have a particular budget or hp goal in mind but basically I'm not building a race car and don't want to spend a ton. I guess I'd love to see 400 hp, crank or wheels I don't really care. Below are the options I'm considering and just looking for opinions on which people like. I know I can read about this until I'm blue in the face so I'm just trying to hear what others think they would do. It's an iron block bored to a 5.7 with flat top pistons, Summit Pro LS stage 2 cam and Trick Flow springs (relabeled PAC 1218s I believe). I'm using a WS6Store rebuild kit so whatever stock replacement head gaskets come with that. Speed Engineering long tubes. I have an LS1 intake so that's what I'll use when I get it together for the time being, may upgrade someday, may not.

Option 1- clean the 862 heads and use them as is. I know they have the smaller valves but also the small chambers for a compression bump. $0
Option 2- look for a used set of 241/243/799 heads and run them stock. Obviously not the ultimate option, but for a couple hundred dollars are they better than my 862s? Bigger valves but lower compression. $400-500ish i'd think.
Option 3- send stock heads to Texas Speed for porting and bigger valves. About $1000. Obviously the best option for performance. About the limit I'd be willing to spend, but is the extra money worth it over any of the stock head options if I'm not looking for maximum performance?

At this stage I'm just thinking about my options as I'm still waiting on some parts to get the bottom end together and am a long way from getting it running, but I want to decide on a direction for when I'm ready. I throw the 400 hp number out there but I think either way it will be a fast fun car so I'm not hung up on numbers. I don't think 400 is a ridiculous number but maybe I'm dreaming.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

If your goal is 400hp, than almost any head will work. No porting needed. Sure some heads are better than others but almost every LS motor can make 400hp with a decent exhaust and tune. A small cam makes it a slam dunk. If I were you, I'd find a set of 799 heads and pair it with a dorman ls2 intake manifold and a cam slighly larger than stock. 350 to 400rwhp will be where you end up.

Edit: Or sell what you have and find an LS1 or LQ4 and be at your goal day 1.

Grant2k

I already have the cam and headers sitting on the shelf. I'll probably take your advice and look for some 799 heads. I may try my hand at shaving the truck manifold rather than using the LS1 since I understand that will fit under the hood. If I were smart I would have started with an LQ4 but I've already invested in the boring of this iron block and balancing a 5.3 crank for the bigger pistons so I am putting this bottom end together. I know horsepower is easy to make with an LS, I just didn't want to get hung up on a number.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

On your search for 799 heads be on the lookout for a decent set of 706 and or 241 heads. The 706 is an early truck head and the 241 came on the f-bodies. Lots of guys sell ported versions of those as they step up to bigger and better players. A ported version of either of those heads would work great for your motor and are underrated when ported.