Heads

[Flying Jester]

Is there any simple thing I can do to the heads of an 86 2.8L, like taking a dremel and "porting" the passages? Bearing in mind I have about ten heads to experiment on.

[Rootie524]

yeah i'd just go ahead and go port crazy on them...take some gaskets and put them up on the head and scribe around the gasket so you can see the excess metal that can be removed within the limitation of the gasket. then go ape shit on the rotary tool.

[Flying Jester]

With all the spares, nothing to lose. Has anyone actually seen much improvement from porting?

[86FieroSEv6]

You'll get a little bit right off, but the pudding is in the after tune performance once the brains are instructed to catch up with it's ass . . . . . . . . . .

[bszopi]

Those iron heads are going to kill your dremel... One thing I know of is to keep the "fin" that is inside the head. You can clean it up some, but don't get rid of it, as that will kill any improvements you made otherwise.

[Rootie524]

Fin? Is that only an iron head thing and not an aluminum one.

[bszopi]

Fin? Is that only an iron head thing and not an aluminum one.

Yes.

[Rootie524]

so im porting my heads now too..and how much is too much porting? at what point doesnt it make sense anymore. obviously you have to gasket match it but it seems as though i could dremel all day long in the bowls on the head. and im currently doing the exhaust ports..should i leave it rough or smooth it out with finer sanding bits? same with the intake..rough or smooth?

and in the bowls there are these notches both on intake and exhaust. i dont know what they are but they all have them. the pics are blurry but if you've looked at heads before youll know what im talking about. what is it, what does it do, and am i f-ed if i dremel it?

[Superdave]

Porting should be left to the professionals who have the proper tools and equipment to get real results.


a dremel is not a porting tool and the use of one is just a waste of time and effort. Chances are that you'll make no difference in the actual flow of the head.. or do something that actually hurts flow.

[Rootie524]

everyone i have talked to and all (at least everyone one ive seen) of the video on youtube are of people porting heads with a rotary tool.

[SappySE107]

There are high powered electric die grinders, and then there are dremel/rotozip tools. It would take forever with iron heads. You better have an extension and a whole lot of time to use one on aluminum as well.

Anyone can post a video on youtube.

[blowns10]

Don't forget to blend the bowl and clean up the combustion chamber. The fin actually promotes better airflow, or at least that's what I've read!. Late.

[mickaz]

There are high powered electric die grinders, and then there are dremel/rotozip tools. It would take forever with iron heads. You better have an extension and a whole lot of time to use one on aluminum as well.

Anyone can post a video on youtube.

listen to that guy.....sometimes ( only sometimes) he makes sence...

[Rootie524]

I do listen to him and believe me he helps me out a lot. but you guys need to understand i dont have hundreds of dollars to buy heads right now. but i do have lots of time and rotary tool bits as well as a spare set of aluminum heads, so of course im going to try and do it myself. so hopefully you can help me out anyway and not ridicule me for my choice. I just want to know what those notches are and maybe some tips and tricks for a good port job. i know i dont have the best tool for the job and thats why im doing it on a spare set of heads.

[mickaz]

then, read this shit.

http://www.max-boost.co.uk/max-boost/internet_articles/Standard%20Abrasives%20-%20DIY%20Cylinder%20Head%20Porting%20Guide.htm

no swear filter? hmm.... fuckfuckfuk!!!! lol I had to!