Jump to content
HybridZ

Porting heads and manifolds...


Guest firebern

Recommended Posts

Guest firebern

When I removed the original headers from the engine, I noticed they left a square mark on the head. These showed that the shape of the header ports were actually bigger than the exhaut ports themselves.

 

So i'd like to port my heads on my own. I figured I could easily do this using a dremel tool and a good sanding bit. I'd put a wet rag in the hole so the metal scrap won't fall into the cylinders.

 

Anybody ever did this? Tips? Do and don't?

 

Thanks,

Fire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The heads could definitely benefit from porting, especially on the exhaust side. That being said, I would remove the head before attempting this. There is no way that you can prevent particles from getting in the engine if you perform the porting with the heads installed.

 

I am contemplating getting some aluminum heads for mine (1100.00) or having a guy I know at a local port and refurbish my stock heads. He has a great machine for porting that allows him to match the ports to each other. He says he'll do the whole jobs ,including new springs, for $300.00. These heads will outperform the high milage stock heads that I have, but will not perform like the Edelbrock or TFS aluminum heads.

 

It all comes down to this, "How fast you can go is directly proportional to how much you spend." (and I'm poor)

 

See Ya,

Dan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest firebern

We are all poor, thrust me. I wouldn't play around wioth a V8 conversion if I had the dollars to buy a mach 1 or even better a ferrari!

 

Ok, so I won't port the heads on my own.

I'll wait till I get to Texas.

 

Later,

Fire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest JAMIE T

Almost hesitant to say this, but I have ported a set of 5.0 heads without disassembling them. I did take them off the engine though, due to blown head gaskets (boost is a b#tch) I did just as you said and stuffed rags(small) deep in the port. I have heard of people using Dremel tools to port heads and intakes but they are not designed for this type of abuse. IMHO Get a REAL die grinder. I use an air type and a heavy duty Milwakee electric die grinder. Dremal does make a shaft type die grinder that uses the appropriate 1/4" collets, regular Dremels use a 1/8" collet. I worked another set of stock E7TE heads for a guy, added larger valves and such and they out performed his Edelbrock Performer 5.0 heads. He thought he would add some more power with the alum. heads and his car slowed down. They are a good set of SLEEPER heads. The biggest improvements will come from under the Valve area were the seat meets the port, and on the stock heads the EGR bump in the exhaust port. It would be ok to take the port out to the gasket mark on your heads.

 

E-mail me if you have any other questions about port work, that includes everyone biggrin.gif

 

Jamie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest firebern

So... Well, I don't really have time to take the heads off, so I think I won't do it till I need to change something in the heads. I am planning to put roller rockers in the future(I like to rev the engine a lot). I'll probably do this at the same time.

 

I've been told that to appreciate every little modification it's better to go at it one at a time. You'll never know what you gained otherwise. I kind a agree with this.

Car enthusiasts wisdom....

 

Later,

Fire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
Guest Anonymous

From what I understand of Ford heads, obviously its the number 1 thing to do for performance. I'm sure port matching will give some small gains, but I'm pretty sure (and someone correct if I'm off base here) on a ford the pocket area of the valve is what needs fixing, by the time it gets to the header its already been restricted. Just a observation..

 

Regards,

 

Lone

 

Oops, had to Edit, I just Read Jamie T's mail saying essentially the same thing, my bad...

 

[ May 28, 2001: Message edited by: lonehdrider ]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dremel? Hehe, expect to spend a TON of time doing it. On the other hand you're less likely to screw it up by getting a little too crazy. A decent carbide bit in an air tool can eat some SERIOUS metal!

 

Do NOT port this inside the house or garage, do not port them on the concrete driveway either. Find a nice quiet place in the grass, wear hearing protection, wear eye protection, wear some breathing protection. Iron dust produces rust if it gets onto concrete, will hose your lungs, will trash your eyes. You get the idea. Oh, wear gloves too! I've got all sorts of little metal filings in my hands and my knees from the grinding I've done in the garage where it's gotten into the carpet. I can also tell you that it costs about $140 to have a metal sliver removed from your eye and that they use a tiny DRILL to remove the RUST around the sliver. Not cool....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest firebern

Holy smokes icon_eek.gif ,

 

you certainly went through a lot!

and you are rigth, for what you can save

sometimes you're better off buying it or

having it done. I have had my share of accidents too icon_mad.gif while working on my car.

If you are only doing it to save money,

save yourself first.

 

But it's so much fun to do it on your own and it's something you can be proud of.

 

Dangerous, no doubt about it!

 

Cheers,

Fire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your header ports don't match your heads, the simplest way to improve this is to have the headers welded up (match to gasket that matches your heads) and then dremel that surface smooth so you have an improved flow. This is needed on many sbc conversions where roundport headers or square port headers are put on D port heads.....(many don't know it and wonder why exhaust gaskets won't stay sealed)While ports often benefit from opening them up, there is usually typical areas one should target and I'm not sure if that edge you're looking at is one of them.

 

PS I'm not sure if JB weld could be an even cheaper suitable fix or not.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...