Crazy Idea with Heads for LT1

[Fox Slaughter]

Pro-filer 23* SBC heads.

Will flow over 300cfm as cast.
With CNC work will flow over 400cfm.
CFM isn't everything when talking about a set of heads but good numbers.
Best part is they cost 475 a head.
So 900 for a pair.
It costs between 300-400 to convert to reverse cooling.
So total of 1200 - 1300 to flow 300cfm out of the box.

AFRs will flow the same but for over 2000 bucks. Also they are already fully machined I heard.
Now TFS 23* from AI will flow over 400 for 2500 bucks.
AI 200cc LT1 heads will flow almost 300 for 1775 and thats the max for the heads.

Also converting to SBC heads opens up a ton of manifolds.

They are also drilled for both center and rail bolt valve covers. So you can use stock valvecovers or SBC valvecovers.

Here is the lift tested as cast.

Lift No. 1 No. 2
-------- ------- -------
0.2000 143.0 96.2
0.3000 204.3 150.1
0.4000 249.7 178.0
0.5000 284.2 198.8
0.6000 299.6 211.0
0.7000 299.6 218.1
0.8000 301.9 221.3
0.9000 301.9 222.9
1.0000 299.6 222.9
-------- ------- -------
Average: 264.9 191.0

For 1500 bucks (valvetrain added) you will have heads that will perform just as well as AI 200cc heads plus be able to machine them to flow as much as TSF 21* 245cc heads.

[nascarnate326]

Guess I dont see the value vs sending some stock heads to AI or LE and having them work some magic.

So SBC heads will be good for 6-800 hp then?

[Fox Slaughter]

Sending stock heads to AI/LE and having them work magic costs more to get the exact same flow as the Pro-filer heads. If you send out Pro-Filer heads to be done they will out perform the AI/LE heads.

So you invest less money to get the same performance and then down the line, take the heads out and send them out for even more performance. No need to buy new heads.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/small-bloc...210-heads.html

Made 588hp with a 383 SBC running 11.1:1 CP.

[93formulalt1]

Would you be stuck switching over to a carbed or aftermarket FI setup, or would you be able to somehow make the factory FI system work? I don't know about the differences between intake port locations or anything, but it would be a pretty cool way to make power on the cheap without having to completely replace the top end of the motor. . .

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I'm fairly certain this idea is nothing new, I think its great to step out of the box I say go for it.

[Fox Slaughter]

I probably won't be doing it for the current engine in the car but when I build the block laying in my garage I will probably do it. Its also cool to have something different then just everyone else with a AI/LE setup.

You could switch over to a carb/distributor which is what I would do.
If you wanted to use factory manifold you could. You would just have to have the holes welded and then drill it to a SBC pattern. Its the same as taking a SBC manifold and drilling it to the LT1 pattern.

[Fox Slaughter]

http://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-mo...w-numbers.html

TFS 21* heads down by Lloyd Elliot.

Those Pro-filer heads will flow that as cast.

Lloyd lists the 23* TFS at 290cfm for 1800 bucks.

[dawdaw]

I'm fairly certain this idea is nothing new, I think its great to step out of the box I say go for it.

Ya definately not new at all lol... Theres guys running almost every 1 gen type sbc head on an lt1 platform... look up nitro daves sb2.2 lt1... biggest thing is going to an aftermarket 1 gen casting thats flowing some serious air is not going to want to have a piece of shit lt1 intake on it.. Better off getting a single plane. Biggest problem is, is that with a lt block if you plan on making serious power you can realistically only go over a 30 over bore for any serious nitrous or forced induction set up so it limits you bigtime on valve size an other things that make power. Once you get into going to a huge head, single plane or sheet metal, old school distributor you might as well get it over with and go get a little m block and get a decent bore size so your not choking the heads down with a tiny 4.030 bore... Trust me i would love to do a serious lt build but in the end the block is the biggest and ultimately your limiting factor in progressing with the platform, Everything else to make power is there the block just stinks. Look at big ricks lt1 that went 8.08 at 1.72... it beat the bearings out of the bottom end every 5 to 10 passes and thats ultimately why he gave up on the platform, most every "hard core" ltx guy will agree that right around 1000 at the flywheel is the threshhold for block, anything after that on your pushing it.