Porting Heads

[Kid_Again]

Yup, I'm ready to follow in Zora's footsteps and grind away all the stuff that makes my car too heavy. First time ever for me and I have an old set of '68 heads for practice that came on my "correct" '65 365hp engine (I shoulda' bought a big block )...but i digress right away.....AHHHHHH, that Prozac hits the spot..

OK, back on point....I will get the kit from Standard Abrasives unless you folks have better ideas. I already have a selection of carbide burrs and there is ALWAYS the bench grinder for the really BIG obstructions.....

....i have a book that spends maybe 20 pages on porting and polishing heads so i have a general idea of what to do, things like pocket porting is the most useful part of the job, pay special attention to the parts where airflow changes direction, you don't need a mirror finish and when you punch through the water jacket or push rod hole, you re-assemble the heads and sell them at carlisle with an out of sight guarantee (guaranteed until i am out of sight)...i also understand the benfits will be modest because I will be conservative but i'll also port match the runners on both the heads and intake manifold and polish the combustion chamber...

...any advice you can give me about this task?...any books or videos that you would recommend? (suggestions for videos such as the Nubian Godesses from the Planet Playtex are also welcome)....

..the heads are cast iron and i understand that a good face mask is required...

thanks in advance

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

oh..boy......

 

[JohnZ]

I'd just clean up the transitions at the bowl below the seats (the "pockets") and match the ports at the gasket joint and call it a day. The rest is a LOT of work, and probably won't gain you much, especially if this is the engine you're going to put a blower on.

 

[Kid_Again]

Sounds like a plan and it eliminates my concerns. Yup, the blower would go on this engine.

Thanks!

I figure that I can do the heads the next time that I break down at VNV's.;help

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Sounds like a plan and it eliminates my concerns. Yup, the blower would go on this engine.

Thanks!

I figure that I can do the heads the next time that I break down at VNV's.;help

Yep... That'll be cool... I just bought a 5Hp weed wacker ...we can hang a Burr grinder on the shaft and shove that bad boy right in the head..;help

 

[henny496]

porting

Hello
I just lost my rather lengthy response,( which may be a good thing) so I will give a condensed version
You can get into a lot of work on cast heads if you start porting extensively. One you do one port, you are committed to do them all
The blower will help you quite a bit and will give you lots of torque.
Polish the combustion chambers and exhaust port. The intake side is usually left about an 80 grit finish ( normally aspirated) Put old valves in the chambers when polishing them
Don't take much material off the short side radius on the intake. It is a dead spot and by removing a lot of material here, although it is easy to do, will do more harm than good
Grinding cast heads is time consuming and messy. You could polish them up and then decide how much enthusiasm you have left
Do the basic stuff first
take care
Tom

 

[bossvette]

here is my $.02
Unless you are doing it for the fun of it you are better off buying a set of modern aluminum heads and be done with it. Even the so called "street" ones will outperform a old set of cast iron heads. By the time you get the valves done, guides replaced, screw in studs, springs etc you will be close to the price of new aluminum heads. Unless of course you want the extra weight to hold the front end down.

 

[Kid_Again]

Thanks guys, 'ppreciate it.

The heads are new dart iron eagle. Yup, need the extra weight in front once I go above 150mph or so