[mdvaldosta]

Shoulda taken pics (hands still numb, heh), will get some when they come back from the machine shop (getting cleaned and decked). Also polished the inside of the Dragon plenum I'll be running.

The heads were the easiest I've ever ported. The overal design of the PI heads are phenominal, it's no wonder why there are no aftermarket heads available. There was alot of material there to use, though the design is so good all I really did was port match and remove casting flash from the bowl area. I took a bit out of the chamber area though, there is some sort of swirl inhibitor there that impedes flow. Takes about a half point from from the compression ratio though I thought it was necessary. Looking at the aftermarket CNC heads those have the riser removed as well.

Overall, they look real good. Worth the 12 hours I spent on them. Oh yea, about the dragon plenum, that's a real good design but the casting is horrible. It cleans up nicely though.

The car should be back on the road in a week or two, depending on how much longer the machine shop takes.

[03 R Code]

Sounds nice. Where did you learn how to port your own heads, or how not to screw it up when you do it!

You going into buisness for yourself? Might be able to make some money off of a skill like that.

[mdvaldosta]

I've ported a dozen or so heads and a bunch of intakes. It only requires a basic understanding of airflow (I'm not competing in NASCAR, heh), someone that knows how to do it showing you how, and a junk head to practice on.

I wouldn't do this for a living, tough work and the fact that CNC machines can do a more accurate job and do it much faster. I only did it to save on the cost of buying aftermarket CNC'd heads.

If you've got a die grinder, basic porting kit (stones, rolls, flap wheel, etc.), basic set of instructions, and some time on your hands anyone can do it.

[97Cobra]

sounds nice! howmany horses are you expectin to get out of it?

[mdvaldosta]

Around 550 rwhp.

[03 R Code]

is that 550hp with the same set up as before except for the head job? Or are there other upgrades going on at the same time?

[mdvaldosta]

Same as before's 412 rwhp but from:

VT stage 1 N/A cams
stock heads
3.3" Vortec pulley
70mm TB / ported stock plenum
Stock shortblock

To:

Custom blower cams
Ported heads
3.1" RR pulley
Custom intercooler
75mm dragon TB / Plenum
Forged shortblock

[03 R Code]

Sweet looking set up. Who built your engine, and how was their service?

[Drgnracin72]

sweet joe. cat wait to see how she does! how long has it been down? and did you ever decide on a name for it? i think he just bought the new rods and pictons and have eveerything cleaned up and assembled!! good luck

[ChrisJ]

You feel like cleaning up another intake?

If you do pm me a price and I will get it out to you...

I wish I knew how to do this...

Chris