Port stock heads
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2004
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Port stock heads I know this subject has been beat to death, but I searched and couldn't find really a conclusive answer.
I have a good realtionship with a reputable machine shop in town and was given a great deal. They offered to port and polish my heads for 150 bucks. (My girlfriends mom owns the shop
) My question is whether it is worth it to take off my heads and have it done. I do not plan on buying new heads any time in the next year or two.
Also if I do have it done,what, if any, information should I tell the machinist? I do not know if he has done LS1 heads before, however I do know that alot of mechanic's shops around my town send their stuff here to get done here. I hear they're the best.
I'm not too worried about them screwing my heads up, and if they do then I'll buy another set and chalk it up to experience. Thanks in advance for any help.
Luke
I have a good realtionship with a reputable machine shop in town and was given a great deal. They offered to port and polish my heads for 150 bucks. (My girlfriends mom owns the shop
) My question is whether it is worth it to take off my heads and have it done. I do not plan on buying new heads any time in the next year or two. Also if I do have it done,what, if any, information should I tell the machinist? I do not know if he has done LS1 heads before, however I do know that alot of mechanic's shops around my town send their stuff here to get done here. I hear they're the best.
I'm not too worried about them screwing my heads up, and if they do then I'll buy another set and chalk it up to experience. Thanks in advance for any help.
Luke
Originally Posted by 98BirdLS1
I know this subject has been beat to death, but I searched and couldn't find really a conclusive answer.
I have a good realtionship with a reputable machine shop in town and was given a great deal. They offered to port and polish my heads for 150 bucks. (My girlfriends mom owns the shop ) My question is whether it is worth it to take off my heads and have it done. I do not plan on buying new heads any time in the next year or two.
Also if I do have it done,what, if any, information should I tell the machinist? I do not know if he has done LS1 heads before, however I do know that alot of mechanic's shops around my town send their stuff here to get done here. I hear they're the best.
I'm not too worried about them screwing my heads up, and if they do then I'll buy another set and chalk it up to experience. Thanks in advance for any help.
Luke
I have a good realtionship with a reputable machine shop in town and was given a great deal. They offered to port and polish my heads for 150 bucks. (My girlfriends mom owns the shop
) My question is whether it is worth it to take off my heads and have it done. I do not plan on buying new heads any time in the next year or two. Also if I do have it done,what, if any, information should I tell the machinist? I do not know if he has done LS1 heads before, however I do know that alot of mechanic's shops around my town send their stuff here to get done here. I hear they're the best.
I'm not too worried about them screwing my heads up, and if they do then I'll buy another set and chalk it up to experience. Thanks in advance for any help.
Luke
lol kidding. But seriously man jump all over it man 
I ported mine myself and retained the stock valves. People say porting LS1 heads is different than SBC, and you should go to a shop that has done LS1 heads before. The only difference I could see is the LS1 heads have a swirl ramp, so you have to decide whether to take those out for top end performance, or retain them for part throttle fuel economy. I think you have to leave a little bit of the ramp there, or you will break through. I took most of it out and had no problems. I suspect most of the gains are to be had in the bowel area; if you port outside of that, the port could loose flow velocity. So those are some points to discuss with them.
Just as long as the machinist that ports them doesnt have the bigger is better frame of mind. Reshaping and blending is as far as I would want someone to go that I didnt know if they have done LS1 heads or not. Have him cc the heads after hes done and they shouldnt be over 215cc for an aggressive reshape and cleanup.
