Cam+Porting heads

[Blackdevil77]

With my most recent visit to Kaltech, I started talking to Brian about the Cam's and everything and he said why don't you get your heads ported while your at it? He said it'll save me $$ on labor if you do it at once. So my question is, what exactly does it mean to port the cylinder heads and what benefit would you get from it?

[GRRRR8]

Porting the heads increases the flow in the intake and exhaust ports.

[MANOFSTEEL69]

Have the intake and throttle body done while you're at it.

[GRRRR8]

Have the intake and throttle body done while you're at it.

Absolutely!

[wreckwriter]

I've heard (Hot Rod mag again) that there's not a whole lot of meat available for porting on the L92 heads.

[GRRRR8]

Its really clean up more then porting and better, lighter valves are where most of the power is gained. The intake side is good, but the exhaust and the area behind the valves is where the work seems to get done.

[MANOFSTEEL69]

I'm just gonna go with a new set of Livernois Stage II's. We figure that the heads and ported intake will give me 30 more HP+

[wreckwriter]

I'm just gonna go with a new set of Livernois Stage II's. We figure that the heads and ported intake will give me 30 more HP+

Pretty pricey 30 though, no?

[MANOFSTEEL69]

Around 2000 including labor and tune I believe. I'll know more exactly on Monday. Matt Reeves at LMS is supposed to get me a price....Stay tuned.

[wreckwriter]

Yea, the first 50 or 60 are pretty easy, then we hit that point where each HP costs a lot more to gain.

[MANOFSTEEL69]

This will be it for me motorwise till I come up with a better tranny, driveline solution. Next begins the cosmetic Holden conversion.

[wreckwriter]

This will be it for me motorwise till I come up with a better tranny, driveline solution. Next begins the cosmetic Holden conversion.

Yea, I'm looking at one more big engine mod too, for the same reason. I'll be posting a thread with the options I've pretty much decided on soon, looking for advice as usual :)

[GRRRR8]

Tom you have come a long ways. You went from getting to giving advice on many things and that is awesome!

[wreckwriter]

Tom you have come a long ways. You went from getting to giving advice on many things and that is awesome!

These new motors and trans are still a bit of a mystery to me but I've picked up a bit from you and others.

[Blackdevil77]

Ok sounds good. Yeah thats what Brian said. He said he If I'm getting a cam, I might as well port the cylinder heads to while im at it, and that is what Brian does best, motor rebuilds. That's one thing I've noticed, when I go to his shop, I always find a corvette or something with the engine open.
So If you had to guess, what is a expected/decent price for cam, all supporting parts, porting cylinder heads and throttle body and intake all at once including labor??? Final price I'm guessing will be around 4 grand. OUCH!!!!

[GeorgeInNePa]

I'm trying to decide whether to get "aftermarket" heads or have mine done. Then the decision is where to buy them or send them for work.

Also, do I get something like the Livernois Stage 1 cam or since the heads will flow much better, get something like the Stage 2 or 2R cam?

Over on LS1Tech, there are 3 or 4 companies that have heads or do head work. Livernois is there.

[Andy@Livernois]

I will be honest, it is much cheaper to have your heads done then to buy them outright. the castings alone are about 750 a pair now... btw there is a good amount of material in the heads, its just all about removing the right material from the right places...

[Blackdevil77]

George for that kinda work to be done, why don't you have Tune time, New Era or Kaltech do it? They are all good for that stuff. It may be a bit of a commute lol, but hey, take a vacation!

[GeorgeInNePa]

George for that kinda work to be done, why don't you have Tune time, New Era or Kaltech do it? They are all good for that stuff. It may be a bit of a commute lol, but hey, take a vacation!

The car will be parked in Jan and Feb due to weather. I want to send the heads somewhere to be done.

I'll be doing this my self. I just have to convince my father, the pack rat, to let me clean out his garbage heap, I mean shop. I have over $30K in tools there (in 1990 dollars), plus his tools and our other equipment.

[GRRRR8]

So you are going to want the GRRRR8 cam/head swap cliff notes I take it George.

[GeorgeInNePa]

So you are going to want the GRRRR8 cam/head swap cliff notes I take it George.

Lol, sure, although it can't be much harder than every other cam I've done and seen done. The big difference with the LS is you have to take the heads off to get to the lifters.

Crazy Paul's pics and part list have me going in the right direction and if I get crossed up, I'll just bug you. lol

Since the heads are coming off, they might as well be "massaged" a bit. I just need to figure out where to send them.

I just need access to my tools and room in the shop. 32'X40' and you are lucky to fit a car in there.

[GRRRR8]

LS motors are very easy to work on. Even easier if you dont have AFM. Camp swaps can be done without pulling the intake.

[GeorgeInNePa]

Hoping for no swaps, one and done.

:)

[GRRRR8]

I dont know about all that. One and done until next winter!