I am looking for information on all of the physical dimensions of the LT1 cylinder head. Like port locations, dimensions, volumes etc... I am in the process of designing my own cylinder heads and I would like to start with the LT1 because that is what is in my "test vehicle". Thank you for your any responses and I will answer any questions that I can without surrendering too much info... Probably take at least 2 years of R&D before I would have a working prototype as I am about to start my last semester of school, but you have to start somewhere... Thanks again.

Andrew

 

you should just buy some LT1 heads for like 200 bucks and take all the dimensions off them

 

Buying a set of used heads just to measure them is not very cost effective when this information is probably available in electronic or printed format. I am in the early stages of the design and I am currently modeling the parts in a CAD program. I just need to know the port locations and dimensions to be able to make an accurate drawing. My end goal would be to make a completely new cylinder head that could be retro-fitted to existing LT1 engines. That means mating up to the stock intake, exhaust manifolds, and the water jacket in the block. I want to be able to use all current aftermarket boltons like headers for example so I need to duplicate the stock dimensions and locations. Thank you for the response but that is not an option I will consider at this time.

 

I'd be surprised if that info is available.

Rich Krause

 

Something for nothing is just not how the real world works.

I have an accurate model of the LT1 cylinder head along with many others. The time involved in setting a cylinder head up on a coordinate measuring machine and collecting the data quite a process. Not the kind of information people are just willing to give away.
Besides that, how would you create an accurate representation of combustion chambers and port surfaces without point cloud data?
If you are seriously interested in reverse engineering a cylinder head you can contact me via email or private message. I will put you in contact with people who can do this for a cost. If you stand to profit, then consider it an investment.

Take care.

 

What modeling software are you using? Solidworks?

Sounds like a cool idea. I wish i had the machinery to do that sorta stuff. Im currently in school at university of Texas engineering school and have limited access to that sorta stuff.

I have an extra set of LT1 heads and could make some measurements for you if you wanted. I could make you a basic model in solidoworks with all the exterior dimensions and openings, but beyond that it gets tricky.

I actually know a guy that has access to a 3D solid scanner. He can actually scan a set of full out race ported heads (lets say TEA stage 3) and one of a stock casting. Then he can tell the computer to CNC the stock casting EXACTLY like the ported heads. Its REALLY cool.

 

I would go to the source and contact GM, and see if they have any info.... And contact other companies that are making heads for the LT1 and ask if they have any stock information... Just tell them its for an engineer project at school....

 

We use a laser built by SMX coproration for this very purpose. Not an inexpensive piece of equipment by any means. We don't have the volume to justify the cost, but we do need the anonymity that keeping everything under one roof provides. To get more production from the machine, we often scan components for other companies. The real beauty of the SMX is in its speed. Much quicker than Faro or CMM.

Collecting port and internal contour data is a bit more involved but we have the means of collecting that data too if you are trying to replicate a port.

Take care.

 

Mr. Horsepower:
I am not looking to reverse engineer an LT1 cylinder head, I just want to be able to bolt up my own design to stock LT1 parts like intake and exhaust. So basically I just need the external dimensions, port size, and location, and water jacket locations of the block. I will be designing my own valve system and combustion chamber so point cloud data is not needed. I don't expect to get anything for free but it is hard for me to believe that those measurements are not documented in some form or fashion like a GM shop manual or some other format that I could purchase a copy of. Thank you for an informative response but I did not fully explain all of my intentions.

Disco192:
I am using Autodesk Inventor to do the modeling because that is what I have available to me at this time. I am from Austin but I am attending Texas Tech University and studying Mechanical Engineering. We do have a very nice machine shop and a 5 axis CNC machine that we have access to, so I am going to try to do as much as I can before I graduate in December because all I have to pay for is the materials. For the time being I am just trying to get an accurate model drawn so I can evaluate how much space I have to work with and still be compatible with the stock block and other stock pieces that mount to the heads. Lets just say that I don't plan on having vavles in the traditional sense and I will not need a camshaft. Thanks for the response.

 

Something like this?

http://www.coatesengine.com/csrv.html

 

I am aware of the Coates Spherical Rotary Vavle arrangement and my idea while similar is still very different from that. My biggest problem so far is the sealing but testing will need to be done to evaluate those issues. I have the design, I just need to adapt it to the space constraints of an LT1 head. Unlike his design, mine should be able to use existing components of the LT1 so it would infact be a true bolt on head. Thanks for the reply.