There was a website someone mentioned that had a ton of information about all 385 series heads, especially DOVE. I had the link but it got erased. Anyone have this link? The website had information on how to port heads and had photos too.

 

I know the site you are refering to. If you type "D0VE porting" into a search engine like google it will pop up under "reincarnate". I had it saved myself but I lost it when I cleared all the cookies from my internet explorer.

 

Has anybody tried the ( Dove) Port Plates from MPG Head Service?, I've gotten mixed reviews on this, wondered if somebody out there has used them.

 

He's now charging for access:

http://www.reincarnation-automotive.com/index_2.html

 

I asked the same question to my machinist. He put it this way if you take and plug the valve stem opening in the port and use an air nozzle, use low pressure air to blow through the combustion chamber and down the port. Next hold a long piece of news paper and hold it against the exhaust port. Slow raise the piece of paper until it buckles or moves. That is how you know how much wasted space you have in your port. He followed by saying that the gases as they come out will swirl in the wasted space and cause a dead area in the port. By installing the plates it allows the gases to go straight out and not affect the port flow until it is in the header. Then the gases can't come back into the head but rather help to evacuate the port a little faster. He also went on to say that he has used them in Clevelands with a noticable gain with them installed. So I plan on using these myself. So far this guy hasn't steered me wrong yet. He went as far as to show me how to make a set for myself.

 

airharley, thanks for the reply, I'm considering the exh. plates for the "Dove" head, don't think I want to try and make them myself, but they are kind of costly @ $180.00 for eight pieces, but horse power costs money, right? While I got you reading this what is a good piston to use with the "Dove" head and stay at 9 to 9.5 to one CR? A guy always wants to lean towards the small chamber head, but for the street and 87-89 octane it hard to find that "just right piston", without having custom ones made, and maybe thats the way to go. Thanks for now.

 

Well using the handy dandy CR chart thingy in the '97 tech article section, you can use a set of -22cc dish forged pistons from SpeedPro and still have a 9.4-1 with a 72cc head and 9.1-1 with the 76cc head. I say forged because I know it will happen where you will want to add a few things later on the will stress the piston a little more. I know where you can buy them for less then $200 if you really want to know.

 

Thanks a bunch, I'll look at that tech. article, what CL to deck measurement did you use, piston to deck, and head gasket thickness? It's good that these pistons are forged, personally I would rather use a forged piston, and yes I would like to know your source and a speed pro part # if you have it. Right now I have a nice running 76 460 4 speed in my truck (1978 150 4x4). But I am planning a mild street motor. I have a set of "dove" heads and plan to use them if I can keep the CR in check. A long time friend of mine has an all original 429 CJ sitting in the shop covered up, complete from intake to pan, including the old cast iron headers,(manifolds). He has had this motor for the past 18 years, always said he was going to use it someday, but the man has got to many toys. He asked me the other day if I would like to build that motor, I could have it for $900.00, thats what he paid for it 18 years ago. Came from a rolled over Torino. I'm thinking about buying it, but don't think its the kind of piece a guy should use, for what I want to do! "to valuable". A lot of guys wouldn't stop to think about buying it but I can, cause it isn't going anywhere unless I want it. Sorry for the long story but from one "Ford Nut" to another I thought you would enjoy!

 

Oh man! That was the very site I was looking for. The subscription price is rather steep if you ask me. That's alright I guess, all I want to do is remove the exhaust bumps and match the ports to the gaskets. Anyway, thanks fellows.