Porting the heads...
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Nevada
Porting the heads...
Most shops will say they can, but 95% of their experience is usually with Chevy smallblocks. What kind of cam are you going to use and how many CFM are you looking for on the intake and exhaust should be their first questions.
If your '77 has D3 heads, stock flow is about 265CFM Intake and 135CFM Exhaust at .500 lift. The exhaust maxes out at that lift. A decent porting job, without going all-out, will provide 300I and 175-185E and handle most streetable cams. Whoever you choose should be able to quote you both sets of numbers without hesitation. Believe me, if you've done a set or two of any head, the numbers become embedded in your brain.
Choose your cam and then you can determine what degree of porting you'll require.
If your '77 has D3 heads, stock flow is about 265CFM Intake and 135CFM Exhaust at .500 lift. The exhaust maxes out at that lift. A decent porting job, without going all-out, will provide 300I and 175-185E and handle most streetable cams. Whoever you choose should be able to quote you both sets of numbers without hesitation. Believe me, if you've done a set or two of any head, the numbers become embedded in your brain.
Choose your cam and then you can determine what degree of porting you'll require.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: mt. shasta california
Porting the heads...
Thanks a bunch. See i thought it was port the heads and then choose the cam. How vital is it to port the heads for power? I want to be impressive but cannot over do it due to $. So if i did all of the things you recommended, without porting the heads how much hp difference would i be seeing as opposed to everything with porting the heads. BTW, I got my mufflers, carb, and manifold today! Waiting on the headers, and then i am gonna choose my cam. Thanks alot George, you have def been the biggest help on my project!
:7
:7
Postmaster
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From: Nevada
Porting the heads...
If you stay with a cam that's no more than about .520 lift, 210/218 duration @.050 or so, all I'd do is grind down the smog bumps in the exhaust ports and smooth the forging joints in both intake and exhaust ports. That should take MAYBE an hour of shop time.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Porting the heads...
Hi erikl85 ,Just started porting my heads today. I'm just a shadetree guy and not a engineer, but with 20 yrs. as a aircraft mechanic it's time to learn to do some things myself. Now that said, I can tell you that my 78 460 heads Part #D3VE, have very poor exhaust ports. After reading some books about engine building and head stuff I am reddy to do my owe heads. Bought a polishing kit yesterday for $50. and 2 long shaft burrs from ebay. things are going well. will tahe the heads to the shop for a valve job. Are you near N.J. would be glad to show off my heads for you.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: mt. shasta california
Porting the heads...
Thanks! Are there any instructions on how to do the heads? BTW, I live in California, so i live close in an astronomical sense but given the current travel limitations of our species, you are about 3000 miles too far away.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: mt. shasta california
Porting the heads...
Alright, i think i am going to be able to get the heads ported, would they be able to handle this cam, or am i asking to much?
Specifications:
* Advertised duration: 280 intake/280 exhaust
* Duration at .050 in. cam lift: 230 intake/230 exhaust
* Gross valve lift: .530 in. intake/.530 in. exhaust
* Lobe separation: 110 degrees
* RPM range: 2,000 to 6,000
* Mild rough idle
or how about these?
* Advertised duration: 290 intake/300 exhaust degrees
* Duration at .050 in.: 234 intake/244 exhaust degrees
* Gross valve lift: .556/.581
* Lobe separation: 108 degrees
* RPM range: 1,500-6,500 rpm
* Adjustable pushrods or rocker arms required.
Specifications:
* Advertised duration: 280 intake/280 exhaust
* Duration at .050 in. cam lift: 230 intake/230 exhaust
* Gross valve lift: .530 in. intake/.530 in. exhaust
* Lobe separation: 110 degrees
* RPM range: 2,000 to 6,000
* Mild rough idle
or how about these?
* Advertised duration: 290 intake/300 exhaust degrees
* Duration at .050 in.: 234 intake/244 exhaust degrees
* Gross valve lift: .556/.581
* Lobe separation: 108 degrees
* RPM range: 1,500-6,500 rpm
* Adjustable pushrods or rocker arms required.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 313
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From: Orlando
Porting the heads...
Go to this web site and find any post by Scott J. Go to his web site (his link is at bottom of each post), he has tons of info on head porting - including pictures and tools.
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/85220
Mike
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/85220
Mike
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,882
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From: Nevada
Porting the heads...
I just saw the CA location. I have friends there who say the CA smog ***** make it tough to do any modifications to an engine that isn't CARB approved. A current trend there is two engines; a stocker for the registration process and back with the real engine after registrations.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: mt. shasta california
Porting the heads...
Thanks a bunch. Yeah Cali is a bunch of punks about smog *but* my truck is considered a classic by our standards therefore does not have to follow any emissions laws at all.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Porting the heads...
Erikl#85, For that 2nd cam you typed about,from what I've read that "Lobe separation: 108 degrees" sounds like the cam that I am going to take out. Have to idle at 900 to 1000RPM. no power beloow 2800RPM. I'm turning 2300 RPM at 60MPH . that's with over drive. And got 10.5 MPG in my big VAN, towing a small camper. Does a E-150, + a E-350 suspention = A E-550?Will I just finshed porting the first head. seams let 4 days work, probale 12 hrs. work. How just one more head to do.
The porting/ polishing kit had 'NO' instructions with the kit.
But have 4 books I read before tring to port my head. It just involes removing the bumps inside the tubes and sanding the walls of the tubes smooth. Not realy trying to make the tubes bigger.
In the exhaust port right beside the valve guide is a very large bump the blocks the exit of the exhaust gas. Don't know why it is there, was there. Good like, Cloudy here
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,191
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From: USA
Porting the heads...
>If you stay with a cam that's no more than about .520 lift,
>210/218 duration @.050 or so, all I'd do is grind down the
>smog bumps in the exhaust ports and smooth the forging
>joints in both intake and exhaust ports. That should take
>MAYBE an hour of shop time.
Yea, this is exactly what my engine builder did to the heads.
>210/218 duration @.050 or so, all I'd do is grind down the
>smog bumps in the exhaust ports and smooth the forging
>joints in both intake and exhaust ports. That should take
>MAYBE an hour of shop time.
Yea, this is exactly what my engine builder did to the heads.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 325
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From: mt. shasta california
Porting the heads...
Great news, i found someone that will port my heads for 50 bucks. Provided i get the gaskets and he said i need to get him some die grinders, where can i get these and how much are they?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,882
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From: Nevada
Porting the heads...
I'd be apprehensive. A die grinder, singular, air or electric, holds bits that are carbide tipped for serious grinding, stones for intermediate grinding and cartridege rolls for finish grinding. Who supples those? Hard to believe somebody that ports heads doesn't have a die grinder. Be careful.