96 Beretta Project

[3400-95-Modified]

I'll take a picture for you when I get home. *Note this will be a set that has been installed before.

[bob442]

i wouldnt trust anything but felpro. even if they over lapped a bit.are the felpro gasket numbers all that same for the 3x00's?

[3400-95-Modified]

I got some good pics and I'll post them soon. I just need to transfer them to the PC... Breakfast first.

[3400-95-Modified]

You can see if varries on which area overlaps for each port, so if you start with a stock gasket and then go to a felpro and even DON'T go "over" the stock size then you will have overlap from the felpro.







I don't think I went oversized on this... then again I'm not versed at porting.



The other thing is, if I go slightly over, or see a tiny spot that overlaps with the plastic I can trim that just a tiny bit to fix it, there is enough plastic there to trim it a little, where the Felpro's its the rubber and you can't trim that to correct an error.

The Felpro overlap



And yes I have a tiny bit in the right corner where it overlaps, I'll admit to that being slightly over cut, but no where near how much overlaps everywhere with the felpro's

[bob442]

well when your right your right. i'm going to see if theres a different part number for the 3400 to 3500 today. i still wouldnt trust the GM crap any day with the amount there preplaced at my work. and the few line up issues i've seen when setting down the manifold. that could have been human error though.

[3400-95-Modified]

Yes 3400 and 3500 are different, the intake port on the lower and the head are no where near identical, the shape is different which is why you can't do 3400 heads with a 3500 lower or 3500 heads with 3400 lower, the only one you can mix is a 3x00 large port upper with a 3500 lower.

[3400-95-Modified]

I also don't think anyone has run a set of 3500 GM gaskets long enough to even see if they fail in the same way as the 3400 ones did. Until that is proven I don't see there to be any concern since they are not the same as the 3400 ones.

[SappySE107]

Oh, 3500. I was looking at the 3400 gaskets.

[3400-95-Modified]

Finally this motor is getting the port work it deserves, Talk about time consuming.










Head Half done



The other completed head.

[3400-95-Modified]

Oh, 3500. I was looking at the 3400 gaskets.

So does that make me not crazy?

[SappySE107]

Yeah, helps to be talking about the same gaskets I wouldn't be too concerned about the overlap you have with the plastic gaskets. I didnt notice as much difference on the metal gaskets in that corner, but I knew they weren't going to be like the 3400 metal gaskets. Those are considerably larger than the 3400 plastic gaskets.

[bob442]

you know, theres one thing over looked alot, and i dont know why it hasent raised question. cleaning up the casting for the oil vallies and coolant passages, better cooling?
theres isnt enough casting material left behind on these heads to justify what i mean, but if you look at a set of 5.7l heads...theres quite a bit.

[3400-95-Modified]

you know, theres one thing over looked alot, and i dont know why it hasent raised question. cleaning up the casting for the oil vallies and coolant passages, better cooling?
theres isnt enough casting material left behind on these heads to justify what i mean, but if you look at a set of 5.7l heads...theres quite a bit.

With everything I have done though I have never had any cooling issues, I don't see the need... My car sticks at 180 or less.

And with the oil returns, I guess you could clean them up but I don't think its very necessary.

[3400-95-Modified]

Got my headgaskets and crank scraper yesterday. Still gotta finish up exhaust ports on one head, then get them surfaced and a valve job cut... and also inspect the valves to ensure the exhaust ones are ok.

Then get a set of "short" head studs since I had issues with my original set.

But I have one question... Dave, I heard you had a welded diff in your 5-speed... Any input on that? Bad idea for a car that may see road some and not just strip?

I was debating doing it but with the premature wear of some items I'm kind of afraid to do it.

[Superdave]

I did it as a last resort to get better traction at the strip, and it worked. driving around town requires your full attention 100% of the time. Turning is a chore and backing up while turning is really fun.


It's up to you but i personally wouldn't do it.