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Porting and polishing.....

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Old Jan 13, 2003 | 11:43 PM
  #1  
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Default Porting and polishing.....

If i am getting a cam and the race shop here in town wants to port and polish the heads should I?? I think it could only help. Also should i mill the heads?

<small>[ January 14, 2003, 10:08 AM: Message edited by: Pro Stock John ]</small>
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Old Jan 13, 2003 | 11:55 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boo Yeah:
<strong> If i am getting a cam and the race shop here in town wants to port and polish the heads should I?? I think it could only help. Also should i mill the heads? </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Porting and polishing is something that alot of people do, but its not as easy as just handing your heads over to any old engine shop.

If you trust the shop and they have experience with the LS1, then go for it, but if theyre honest and say they've never done LS1 heads before, you would be best off sending them off to one of the sponsors who do it on an everyday basis. Porting heads is a science, and if you dont do it right, you could hurt your performance.
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Old Jan 14, 2003 | 12:21 AM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

Yes if you get your heads ported by anyone then make sure they mill them as well.It only means more power.
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Old Jan 14, 2003 | 09:00 AM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

well this shop has built many race cars. It is actually a race shop that is in the same building as a machine shop. They have alot of cars that win many classes at the strip near here. I guess i need to ask if they have dealt with ls1's
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Old Jan 14, 2003 | 06:05 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

TTT
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Old Jan 15, 2003 | 05:30 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

Yes its best if shop has LS1 experience because they are sensitive. As for milling, i would shave them .035" for 10.8 to 1 comp. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
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Old Jan 15, 2003 | 08:23 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

Ported and polished, yes, but not hogged out, you will kill your low end torque. Depends on cam.

Naturally aspirated, yes, mill the heads.

Forced induction, don't mill them but look into enlarging the combustion chamber to lower compression. Perhaps o-ring also for better sealing.
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Old Jan 15, 2003 | 09:39 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

I want to run the F1, I know lonslo had alot of sucess with his. Also everyone seems to enjoy theirs. So I am think in may just have the local shop pot and polish them a little. I don't think i need much, also i want to mill the head a little. I may just get a new set or ls6 heads when i go FI.
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Old Jan 15, 2003 | 11:17 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

TTT
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Old Jan 15, 2003 | 11:30 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

The only thing I can tell you to tell them is to give you a street port which means not to hog em out.At least in my book and to have em mill them .035th and no more than .050ths as it will begin to limit your cam choices.
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Old Jan 16, 2003 | 08:50 AM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

will .035 limit my choices at all??? Also do I need different length pushrods with that much?
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Old Jan 16, 2003 | 05:23 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

Not really TR230 will run with .035" cut on heads ok. Most cams have reduced base circle in the range of .035" off heads so it is manageable with stock length. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
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Old Jan 16, 2003 | 11:57 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

Anything else?
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Old Jan 17, 2003 | 07:51 AM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

I'll keep my opinions, but here is some interesting reading if you just want to see what is involved and why head porting is beneficial.

http://www.sa-motorsports.com/diyport.htm
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Old Jan 17, 2003 | 08:39 AM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

W/ a cut of .030" or more, I would go with a shortened pushrod (7.35"). Some guys have run the regular length pushrods w/o a problem, but my heads supplier recommended the shortened pushrods. Better to be safe than sorry.
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Old Jan 18, 2003 | 10:27 PM
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Default Re: Porting and polishing.....

You're saying you can run a TR 230 with 5.7 Heads milled .035"? You're sure about this? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
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