new heads and support
 

I am thinking about doing some more work to the firebird in the upcoming months. It will not make it out this summer, so I am going to take it apart and do some much needed TLC and maybe get a few things done in the meantime.

I am looking at some ebay 5.3L heads, and it has been so long since I really thought about it I wanted to get some input.

My garage should have full modlist, but what is important is that it has a TSP torquer V.2 cam and dual springs and has a roughly tuned 125 or 150 shot on it (i cant remember which I have in there)

What would CNC's 5.3L heads do to my compression, and what will I need to do in tuning to make sure I don't blow this up?

I was also thinking about upgrading to 99 knock sensors at some point, but I no longer remember how difficult that would be.

what do you guys think?

I'll let someone else field the cam question. But for the mechanics of it, do you know your current engine specs (deck height, type of pistons, compressed head gasket thickness, c.c. of current heads, and c.c of new heads)? Those figures are needed to know where your c.r. is coming from and going to, instead of just being able to say "gee, it's gonna be a little higher or lower" whichever the case may be.

well, the cam isnt a question. I already have that cam.

and I know 5.3L heads will increase the compression, I guess what I am asking is if I am already running a little rich will I need to trailer it and retune before driving or will all be ok.

all other engine components are stock.

^ man, seems running rich is contagious!

Are those the ProComp heads you're looking at by chance? If so, have you done some good research on them?

this is step 1 in my research lol

Are these heads from the 5.3L truck engine or the 5.3L car engine? I cant remember which but one will work and the other wont, and I cant find the article where I read that. I would hate to see you drop some good $$$ on heads you cant use.

Massey

Are you sure about that?
I seem to remember people buying the truck heads (and now I cant remember the number code for ANY of the LS heads..... :icon_doh:) for use on LS1's. I could just be safe and go LS6, but I want the bump in compression since I am in a nitrous car

Like I said I know one was different and not compatable but I cant remember what one. I know the 5.3 car and truck engines are totally different but I cant remember what one is similar to the LS1. They both look very close from the outside and some parts will interchange but I have not had any luck finding the article. I think it was on the engine builder's mag website.

Massey

iirc the truck engine is pretty close to the ls1. what came with a 5.3 in a car?

Monte Carlo SS, Impala SS, and I think the Grand Prix

Here is a COMPNINE link to a 2007 Monte Carlo SS with the LS4 5.3L engine

http://www.compnine.com/vid.php?vin=2G1WL15C779186381


Massey

Spec, if step 2 is deciding what brand of heads to get, do a lot of research on the ProComp heads (if those are the flebay ones you're eye-balling). Then step 3 will most likely be looking into which brand you should get instead.

Are you going with after market heads like Patriot or are you going with the straight up 5.3 truck heads?

are u saying procomp are bad?
mostly I was looking to buy used name brand parts because LS1 guys swap out components all the time.
I plan to get ported and polished heads.

I've heard more bad than good reviews from owners on ProComp heads pertaining to their quality control. They're made in China, unless that's changed, but I believe they are/were "claiming" they're made in Australia. They can have thinner castings in critical spots, such as around the valve seat area where the valves can hammer the head down. Yet on the other side of the coin, some guys will say theirs are working fine with no problems. That just supports the inconsistencies in q.c., which China doesn't have to conform to. Do an online search, you'll find a lot of bad crap about them. I'd go with a well known name brand, even used/rebuilt. You get what you pay for.

when I said ebay I meant I would be looking for a deal on ebay lol. I wouldnt buy some knock off. I had a buddy that got some TSP's off of ebay for 500