Better heads worth it?

[IIGW]

for the price of a crate sbc, a junkyard 5.3 with a cam will make more power, better MPGs..

Is heads worth it? the LS should tell you yes. its basically what, a 327ci motor with great heads and makes tons of power for cheap.

[Willshook]

The biggest causes of initial flat tappet cam failures are failure to lube the cam, incorrect valvetrain adjustment, extended cranking with no start, and as always - wrong oil/no break-in oil.

The couple that I've helped people with all had the rocker arms brutally tight because they were told to adjust the preload running...which has always been wrong. It takes 3 minutes to break in a flat-tappet cam...and the risks are extremely low if you've done it all right.

If the engine is healthy, a head/cam swap - done right - is the cheapest route to power by far. Don't miss all the additional costs of doing an LS swap including mounts, exhaust, fuel pump, controller, etc. The LS is a damn near perfect engine and the swap is straightforward...but price it out so you don't get surprised.