I was wondering if anyone has done the head porting before? Anyone for or against it? I know a couple guys that have done it but not to an LT1. Let me know what you guys think!

 

FastZinTennessee home ported his LT1 heads.

I'd try to do it myself, but I'd rather get the most out of my heads as possible. I'd screw up somewhere

 

Yeah, FastnTenn helped me with info on mine. I did mine and it took a long time but I blew my motor so I had the time while the block was being machined. Took me 49 hours of work. If I did them again it would take half the time. Had a lot of do overs. Phil (AI SkardoM) and Lloyd (NightTrain66) helped me on them. I'm glad and proud to have done them myself and the headshop that did the valve job said they looked good. ( I didn't tell him I did it). If you got the time and tools, what the hell, try it. I got them on my stroker and it seems to be good so far.

 

I always have time to save money . I am thinking of buying a spare set and doing them. I can get a die grinder really cheap. What kind of "bits" did you guys use? What should it cost for a valve job?

 

I do my own port work. Saves BIG $$$. I was able to do some old iron SBC heads years back to get the basics down. Mess around with some old iron heads first since they are dirt cheap (if not free in many cases). Once you figure out whats going on take a shot at some aluminum castings. First time just mess around with some sanding rolls before using carbide cutters.
Find a flow bench in your area and get to know the owners. Once you get some flow bench time under your belt you'll QUICKLY learn what works & doesn't work.
I live about 2 miles from Thunder Racing so I pretty much live on their flow bench, LOL.
Steve...

 

really, unless you have access to a flow bench, i wouldnt want to mess with it, you have now way of knowing if you are actually doing any good, you might spend 20 hours and barely pickup anything because you were in the wrong area and didnt know it

 

As a great head porter (Phil aka SkardoM) once told me. People rely too much on flow numbers nowdays. Need to throw it on a dyno to really tell. If you want to learn and save some money, do it yourself. If you want a great job send them to Phil or Lloyd.

 

I've been learning so much since I bought the car and I love it! That's why I am interested in all the do-it-myself stuff I can without messing something up. Luckily I Know enough folks (including all the helpful people here) to probably not cause too much damage.

 

I did my own porting, it took some time but it was well worth it. I got a set of used LT1 heads for $250 a couple of years ago, and then did some research. I bought a set of GM intake gaskets to match to, scribed the port lines and started out with my dremel tool The dremel is slow, but talk about precision! Once I got the port opening how I wanted it, I used an air powered die grinder and a carbide bit to do the rest. I then did a pass on the chamber, exhaust bowl and runner with my dremel tool to get it nice and smooth.

Heads $250
Valves $180
Machine work $420

I don't know how much the springs/retainers/locks added up to, they came in the HOTcam kit.

Here are some pictures-

Left side ports matched, right side stock.

Just back from the machine shop.

You can kinda see the ports in this one(reassembly shot)

Picture of the upgraded springs, assembled.

This site rocks, read it- http://www.sa-motorsports.com/diyport.htm

 

Thanks! That is some great stuff! What size valves are those?

 

 

lol, thanks

 

here is some advise anyone can port match but all the power is made in the pockets. I just picked up what works and what doesnt. it shouldnt take 49hrs to do heads I did mine in 25 which is a couple hrs a day for about two weeks. my first heads flowed 250 cfms at .600 but now i think I am heading for the mid260s maybe even 270s but max lift is not important cause your peak is so fast mid flow # are what you want cause thats where the valve travels time is most.

 

I'm not scared to tackle most projects on my car. However, head porting is like an art and I have no practice at this art so I'll let a pro who has already experimented on lots of others do mine

 

IVe thought about taking a Dremel to a set and do them my self but with my luck the car would probably blow up . As far as I know its more a art form to do correctly which needs immemse skills. I think Jason Short has tried it a little before. You could ask him he could probably tell you a few tips. IM not positive though.


Later,
-JOhn