Update: Headwork or TRD LSD?

[Ian]

Since I'm in the middle of having my engine rebuilt, and it's out of the car. I was considering having the heads ported/polished. It would cost about $1,200, so obviously I wanted to know if it is worth it.

For those of you that have had this done, or know someone who has, is this good bang for the buck?

P.S. I'm already S/C'd.
P.S.S. This is likely my last extra expense on the car, so it's either the headwork, exhaust system or limited slip differential. Damn this car modding thing is addictive.

Thanks

***4/7/06 Update***: O.K., after ample research I'm convinced that the head work is worth the money.

So, now for the next question. I want to ask if anyone has the TRD LSD, and if so, do they like it. In particular, because it is a clutch type, it supposedly chatters at low speed. Is it irritating, and would you recommend? (I've searched this on the forum, but the information is old, as in 2004, so I wanted to see if there were any updated opinions. I know about the Quaiffe and that would be my choice, but I don't want to pay $1,300 for that unit as compared to the $800-$900 for TRD.)

Thanks again for your insight.

[Solarafreek]

This member had work done to his heads. I believe he was n/a though.

The head work i have done is as follwed

Port and Polished
The Bowls are enlarged
3 angle valve job Intake side 5 angle on the exhaust side
I had the heads Shaved 30 thosands to raise the compression....


This made a Huge Differnce

http://www.solaraguy.org/viewtopic.php? ... sc&start=0

[ThatVietGuy]

Plenty worth it on a car with a turbo or supercharger.

Although it is a hard choice between that or an LSD though

[PASolara]

Get the Head work it was worth my wild....I am the one eating that mazda six in the video i also have video of me eating my buddies 06 maxima and a dudes at work 04 350z without even using my Nitrous..

[PhreakdOut]

Headwork. Hands down.

You have the engine apart, now is the time. You can always do the LSD later. If you put off the head work till later, it's a much bigger job. (And expense)

[jhenty]

I'd get LSD, much more rewarding. The guy that did headwork did it for an n/a setup for more compression which is bad for your boosted setup, and probably where he got most of the power. Port and polish is a good upgrade no doubt but why is it costing you $1,200? thats absurd, unless they are the ones taking the heads off of the car themselves. Headwork on average is about $500-600 for a quality p&p. Whats included in that cost?

Either way i think you'll get more rewards out of an LSD.

[PhreakdOut]

I guess I should have read your original post more clearly.

1) Headwork should not be $1200. Did you mean that is the rebuild cost with headwork? If so, not bad. If that is for the heads alone, no way. They have to remove the heads to build the engine anyway. Ask for the heads and take them to be rebuilt.

2) You don't need to shave the head unless is is warped out of spec. I wouldn't worry about compression ratio.

3) Porting and polishing are good investments. Like everything else, one modification leads to another and another. More air in and out of a head does no good if the exhaust can't move out quickly. You've supercharged, great! Have the lower plenum port matched to the heads and the supercharger. (Cheap investment) If you can, find someone to extrude hone the lower plenum as well.

Of course, if funds were unlimited, I'd suggest going for a cam change and look into valve train upgrades. LOL There go the linked mods costing you more money. There's always a logical order to modifications. Going for a LSD is great, but are you having traction problems right now? You still have potential for more power. I'd hate to see you stop when you're more than half way there.

[trd4life]

Get the lsd!!!! The 1mz heads flow good for low to moderate boost. Get the LSD , no more one wheel peel.

[SC V6]

I'd go LSD as well... power is no good if it isn't getting transfered to the ground

[Ian]

Damn! Decisions. That's great information guys and thank you.

When I said "headwork", I was thinking that was just a port and polish. And that is what I think the $1,200 was for. I don't know if there are other things that will be done. But, I just remember just asking for a price for a port and polish.

I would imagine the LSD to not cost too much to install given that the engine is out. I sort of want to go this route, but I don't know what the install charge will be. I'm still trying to get an answer.

[jhenty]

the last few months theres been used TRD lsds for around $500 on ebay. Also know that you are not limited to Solara LSDs, the mr2 turbo LSDs are the same. I know Cusco makes one for like $800, should be a good bet.