Porting heads - Any tricks/tips to share?

[Schmieder]

The pockets are completed. I rounded out the sharp angle just below the valve seats. I paid extra special attention to the short side radius. I measured over and over making sure the pockets maintain equal volume. But not a lot of material was removed, it was easy to round out the factory cuts.

Heads and LIM are gasket matched and blended about 1" in.

Removed any casting slag I found.

What else can I do since I have the shop set-up for porting/polishing?

What about the combustion chamber side of the heads? Is there any benefit de-shrouding the valves? I noticed the valves are really close to the outer edge casting. But to remove that much would drop compression.

Honestly, I don't know what to do on the heads in the combustion chamber, if anything. My policy is don't touch, no guessing, do it right. Any tips for the combustion chamber part of the heads? Can I smooth the ridge by the valves to increase flow when the valves are barely open/closed?

More then likely I am done porting but I am fishing for any tips or areas I can port for more performance. The goal is to increase power before the turbo spools up.

I will post pics of my work soon. So you all can see just how good the pockets look now, I truly impressed myself (trying to maintain modesty).

[Superdave]

unless you have access to a flow bench i wouldn't go any further.


I will say that deshrouding the valves made a slight difference in the very low lifts but made no change at all past .200 when i tested it on some 3500 heads. Not really worth the effort IMO.

what sort of finish did you leave on the intake ports?

[Schmieder]

unless you have access to a flow bench i wouldn't go any further.


I will say that deshrouding the valves made a slight difference in the very low lifts but made no change at all past .200 when i tested it on some 3500 heads. Not really worth the effort IMO.

what sort of finish did you leave on the intake ports?

rough finish, I don't polish. Well, not really rough but there is NO reflection. I read many times not to polish where fuel vapor is present. The amount removed in the pockets is very minimal. Barely just enough to round off the sharp edges. I can see where a lot of people would mess this up easily but it isn't that hard. I would have to say having the will power to hold back is a big part. And measure twice, cut once.

Yeah, i'm done porting. The pockets, both intake/exhaust are smooth (especially the short side radius) and all mating areas are gasket matched w/ the down wind piece a tad bit larger to avoid a lip.

I didn't touch the valve boss thing (if thats what it's called) in the pocket.

I'll post up pics in a few minutes.

[Schmieder]

Nearly all photos blurred. Funny.....here is one that is ok.

But as always, nothing beats being able to see it in person to appreciate the work.