Heads

[pocket-rocket]

From what I can see in your pic's, I believe the "notches" you are referring to are the machined undercuts from the hardened valve seat installation operations.

I'm no head pro, but I concur.

[86FieroSEv6]

From what I can see in your pic's, I believe the "notches" you are referring to are the machined undercuts from the hardened valve seat installation operations.

[Flying Jester]

I'm not under any illusions that going medieval on the heads with a dremel will magically give me 200 HP, but since I've got so many spare heads I figured I'd play around with it. I've done a couple (it's not really a dremel, it's a pneumatic grindy thing that apparently can hold its own with an iron head) I've tried them, and at least they seem as good as the stock version. And on the first one, I think I cut out the fin.

Maybe after 25 years of dirt, blood, and mud the engine isn't as sensitive as it once was...

[2.8/3400 1985 Camaro]

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.

For N/A that is definitely true, though I think that for turbocharing it is beneficial to remove because air is being forced in, my understanding of porting is that, for N/A applications, its all about flow velocity, whereas boosted apps, its all about flow vollume/quantity.

[SappySE107]

I wasn't trying to ridicule you, sorry.

[3400-95-Modified]

I used a dremel with a flexible extension and some carbide bits, and cross buff bits and so on...... Worked fine for me.

[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!

[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]

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...

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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?

[bszopi]

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

Yes.