Cutting Bits for Porting

[Venom]

Hey guys, Im new to the site. I just aquired a 01 Impala 3400 to swap into my 95 Olds Cutlass Supreme. I would like to do some porting first and would like to know where and what kind of bits you guys use for porting. I found a 3 piece kit at Summit, but its $63 So I was hoping to find something a little cheaper if possible.

[MidnightriderZ24]

carbidebur.com is a good place, other wise find a matco or snap on tool dealer for a quality one. i paid 35 a piece for matco carbide bits, and man theyre amazing, they never get clogged up with aluminum like the cheaper ones do!

[Venom]

So which ones did you go with and how many did it take you (or how many do you think it will take) to do an UIM and LIM and heads?

[CNCguy]

Whichever bits you use be sure to hold on tight as it is easy for the grinder to get away from you and gouge the work. Kerosene, WD40 or solvent all work good to keep the bits lubricated and keep the aluminum from galling to the bits. It's a little more messy but Crisco will also work good since it doesn't run off.

[IsaacHayes]

When I did some porting I didn't have the best tools or air supply for them or bits, and this won't help in all areas that you port, but if matching ports you can put down like 6+ layers of masking tape and if the bit catches and skips across a gasket surface, it will usually protect it. It did when I was using stones.

[pocket-rocket]

Normal bits for porting are not stones. I was pointed towards carbide burrs and an aluminum cut carbide burr on ebay. I think I spent about $75 for an 8 pc. carbide burr set and the aluminum cut carbide burr. When I tried out the aluminum cut, well, lets just say there was no way 6 layers of tape would have stopped that beast. It chewed aluminum out of that runner like a fat kid on a Twinkie.

My aluminum cut carbide burr:

[IsaacHayes]

Yeah I know stones suck that's why it took me hours to port out my stuff. That and the compressor only ran the die grinder for about 6 secs before it was useless....

[Venom]

So how many did you use to do the porting you did with the aluminum cut bit? I found a few from ebay sellers, but not sure on the size you used. TIA for all the help so far guys.

[pocket-rocket]

Get a regulator and turn the air pressure down really low so it spins slow. Like Ben told me, that way if it hangs up, the burr will stall out the die grinder instead of gouge your material.

Actually Isaac, stones are safer because they don't remove as much material in a short time, but every time I have used them on aluminum, it clogs up the pores

[IsaacHayes]

Porting intakes I could of used something that cut quicker.. The stones clog sometimes, but my air compressor didnt last long before refills so I would press really hard. That worked best as it would cut the aluminum fast (before I ran out of air), but it also wore the stone out quickly. But it also didn't allow them to clog up either.

[kflo 93 gt]

Just hunt for carbide burrs on ebay. I managed to get lucky and got a really nice 4 or 5 piece used set for like $20 shipped from a jewler or something. So far I've used them on quite a few projects and they really kick ass.

I've used stones before back in the day and the difference is more than night and day. The carbide burrs are easier to use and modulate in my opinion, even with a non-angled die grinder I have plenty of control.

[TazMan]

Here's something I was looking at some time ago. DIY Head Porting Kit. It looks interesting, and was selling on e-bay for pretty cheap, but I've never done any porting, nor do I know anything about it. I'd imagine for so cheap, it can't be that great.

[Venom]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Carbide-Burr-SF-5AL6-Tree-Shape-Aluminum-Cut-6_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ63702QQihZ017QQitemZ270266263979QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Is this the aluminum cut you are talking about? One should be good then?

[pocket-rocket]

Ben bought one of those DIY head porting kits, so he can give you an opinion on it more then I can.

Here is a link to one like mine:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SC-5NF-Cylindrical-Ball-Nose-1-2-CARBIDE-BUR-BUR_W0QQitemZ380061008317QQcmdZViewItem

You could use a tree shaped, but for me, I like my cylindrical ball nosed one. The one kit of carbide burrs I have is an 8 piece so it's got cylindrical, cylindrical ball noses, tree shaped, and ball shaped burrs in two different sizes. I will admit though, I am far from a pro. That would be Ben's arena as I have not ported anything used on an engine yet. I am still in the learning stage.

[Venom]

I think I will just order that bit you posted and see how that goes. Anyone else please feel free to chime in.