5.3 Cylinder Head recommendations

Status
Not open for further replies.

motorheadmike

Geezer
Nov 18, 2009
8,976
27,522
113
Saskatchewan, Truckistan
I got little return on my TSP CNC ported 234/799s on my 5.7L. A stock LS1 and boost makes way more sense.

I hand ported the 706s on the Monte's 5.3L just because I could. They are working great.

The 4.8L I am building is getting lightly worked 241s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

Supercharged111

Comic Book Super Hero
Oct 25, 2019
4,907
7,669
113
Colorado Springs, CO
Or watch Richard Holdeners video series on LS heads and realize the 706/862 is the best NA head you can get for anything under 370 cu/in.

Also the best for boosted HP among the stock offerings.

I've heard conflicting opinions on the 243/799 which is why I said what I said at the end.
 

81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
4,639
13,542
113
Western MN
It's a 6.0 but decent comparison.

Do you want grunt or top end power?

 

Northernregal

Sloppy McRodbender
Oct 24, 2017
3,359
12,826
113
Red Deer, Northern Montana territory
It's a 6.0 but decent comparison.

Do you want grunt or top end power?

He has a good video directly comparing displacement too. With the 706/869 on a 5.3/4.8 just move the power to the right on the dyno chart and remove the % difference in displacement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

64nailhead

Goat Herder
Dec 1, 2014
5,659
1
12,059
113
Upstate NY
I've heard conflicting opinions on the 243/799 which is why I said what I said at the end.
There is tons of conflicting info, but if I have a choice for over 800hp with boost, then 243 it is.



I like Holdener and he has some great info, but he won't lean on anything. And I don't know why - I've asked in his live chats and he always offers up a canned answer. I'd beg to see him lean on that Summit S475 and the VS7875 until they give up to see how far they can go in terms of boost, but he never exceeds 20psi. In the closed environment that he runs them in you could draw some real conclusions about compressor maps, IAT's and power. It would be even better to include some EGT readings at the same time.

He proves an awesome, and very often misunderstood point, the more power you make NA, then more you'll make with boost. He's proven that every which way but Sunday lol. I loved his cam test as well - every cam was virtually identical despite all of the claims by the grinders. I'm confident that he never completed the turbo portion of the cam test because he would've lost sponsorship or standing with many of his suppliers/contributors. Brian Tooley and Comp don't want to see a budget cam (Elgin 1841) from Amazon that is 2/3rds the price keep up with their custom grinds.

The most disappointing video was big bang 6.0 that they were going to run until it didn't. But he stopped because he ran out of MAP sensor - it was pathetic - I think I yelled at the computer lol.LET THE HOLLEY TAKE OVER ?????? Let's see what Mr. Holley has to say dammit - push it off the MAP and let it self tune, it would've either worked or it wouldn't have.

FWIW, I'm still glued to most all of his videos. I'm anxiously awaiting the 3800 stuff.


The best part of LS heads is there isn't a bad one. And for something that isn't a dyno queen or max effort build, then you aren't giving up much in stock form.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users

motorheadmike

Geezer
Nov 18, 2009
8,976
27,522
113
Saskatchewan, Truckistan
I'm confident that he never completed the turbo portion of the cam test because he would've lost sponsorship or standing with many of his suppliers/contributors. Brian Tooley and Comp don't want to see a budget cam (Elgin 1841) from Amazon that is 2/3rds the price keep up with their custom grinds.

The heads, cam and intake (HCI) scam of the 2010s was some of the biggest falsehoods ever sold. Including the proprietary cam spec nonsense .6xx/.6xx 2xx/2xx @ 1xx +x - GTFO vendors.

The juice wasn't worth the squeeze with HCI. So much brand elitism too. The ROI wasn't really there for the average person who was convinced to spend thousands on sub-500hp engines. I know, I bit and got burned.

Early Sloppy Mechanics revealed a lot to us. And was actually entertaining. Keep it simple.
 
  • Agree
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users

Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
113
Spring, Texas
The heads, cam and intake (HCI) scam of the 2010s was some of the biggest falsehoods ever sold. Including the proprietary cam spec nonsense .6xx/.6xx 2xx/2xx @ 1xx +x - GTFO vendors.

The juice wasn't worth the squeeze with HCI. So much brand elitism too. The ROI wasn't really there for the average person who was convinced to spend thousands on sub-500hp engines. I know, I bit and got burned.

Early Sloppy Mechanics revealed a lot to us. And was actually entertaining. Keep it simple.
Kind of reminds me of the aluminum radiator guy.....

"No four row scams!"

Except now it's

"No HCI scams!" 🤣

(BTW....I completely agree with you)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Status
Not open for further replies.

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor