Cascade Crew

iansane · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: 5.3 heads?

So I don't know how much collective knowledge there is here about the LS* powered stuff but I've obtained an '03 5.3 that needs heads and bearings. Keep in mind my lack of funding. Suggestions on heads to replace the stockers? From what I've heard the '243 head (ls6/ls2) head goes on without much issue. People talk about valve shrouding and having to mill the head to gain back compression. 61ish cc vs 65ish cc I think? Anyone forsee problems with this plan? I guess I should figure out whether the truck intake even fits under the stock hood or not...

Dewey316 · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:44 pm Post subject:

I've always heard the truck intakes suck. I would think you could get a stock LS intake from vette or f-body pretty cheap, since most people upgrade to the LS6 or aftermarket. No idea on the heads, but aren't the LQ9 heads supposed to be pretty good too?

iansane · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

I've heard they suck too but it'll come with the money and if it gets me up and running I can swap out later. But the more I look at it the more I think it won't fit under my hood.

I would think that the LQ9 style would need to be cut way down to retain any respectable compression which also means more money on something I can't transfer over to another LS* when I go larger. I don't know though. I was thinking along the same lines as the stock intake, that 243s are sold cheaply by fbody/vette guys that upgrade where as the LQ9 stuff would most likely have to be purchased outright new.

Demon · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

5.3 heads do really well when ported, even on a 5.3 and they'll bolt up to any LS1/LS6 intake manifold...

I've been wanting to put a set of ported 5.3's on my LS1 Embarassed

charlie6178 · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

well, my dad owns aluminum head rebuilders, and we have both 5.3 heads, 6.0 truck heads, LS1, LS2, and LS6 heads,on the shelf and they are all pretty close to the same. the only flaw in the design is that they crack on top by the rockers into the water jacket. other than that, they never go bad. whats wrong with yours??

iansane · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

Supposedly there were casting flaws or something. The heads were too porous allowing coolant to seep into the motor. I guess it wiped out the bearings. This is just what the tech is saying.

On the shelf you say? Very Happy

How much would a set of 5.3 heads run me?

charlie6178 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:50 am Post subject:

yeah they broke on top into the water jacket. that's what always happens. i'm leaving to go to work right now, i'll see what i can do for you as far as price goes.

charlie6178 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

for a complete rebuild head, $250 each, with a $150 core charge. as long as the cores are repairable you will get the $150 back. worst case if the cores are junk, you will get half the core charge back, so $75. usually only one side will crack, so you'll get the full core charge back for one head, half for the other. and we have a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty.

Demon · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject:

so uhh... they do good port work at your dads place??

how much for a pair of LS6 heads without cores? Embarassed

charlie6178 · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

yes we do port work. i actually do most of it myself. it's expensive though. were talking $200-$300 per head depending on how extensive you want to go. plus you have to start with a rebuilt head. and that price does include a 7 angle valve job, with a radius at the top, the top of the seat unshrouded, and new aluminum phosphurus bronze guides.

so with the core charges, you're looking at somewhere between $600-$700 per head total.