[Schoust]

Hey Guy's I bought a set of heads that are non number matching but appear to be exactly the same with the exception of the fact the one head appears to have been {max ported}by the previous owner. The guy told me that he had many,many hours into the head and that he had started on the other head but never finished. Now I have them and would like to try and finish the porting. My question is what would be the best way to go about doing this? Should I use air powered tools for this? I have a 90 degree grinder /spot sander that can be used but will I need the straight grinder to get the job done? Also I have been looking at the kit that Eastwood sells but heard that you really do not need this type kit and would be better served with a few specific bit's? I want to try and match the first head but I want to do it right. So any help Guy's would be appreciated!
Thanks

[ap72]

To get started you need something to measure it all with and draw up some templates. For tools you'll need an electric grinder, some bits, some 60 reglite cartridge rolls, mandrels, machinist's dye, rheostat, that's about it.

If you use harbor freight tools and some decet carbide bits, you're looking at about $125 for the tools and such, and about 20 hours in work.

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by Schoust

I bought a set of heads that are non number matching but appear to be exactly the same with the exception of the fact the one head appears to have been {max ported}by the previous owner.

Give some serious thought to having the finished head flowed to see whether there's anything there that you want to duplicate in the first place.

Many times, a porting job can look fabulous, yet flow like a backed up toilet.

BTW, what are the casting #'s?

[oldbogie]

Originally Posted by Schoust

Hey Guy's I bought a set of heads that are non number matching but appear to be exactly the same with the exception of the fact the one head appears to have been {max ported}by the previous owner. The guy told me that he had many,many hours into the head and that he had started on the other head but never finished. Now I have them and would like to try and finish the porting. My question is what would be the best way to go about doing this? Should I use air powered tools for this? I have a 90 degree grinder /spot sander that can be used but will I need the straight grinder to get the job done? Also I have been looking at the kit that Eastwood sells but heard that you really do not need this type kit and would be better served with a few specific bit's? I want to try and match the first head but I want to do it right. So any help Guy's would be appreciated!
Thanks

AP 72 has it nailed.

Stick with an electric grinder, it takes a whale of a compressor to run an air driven die grinder. A 6 horse Craftsman ain't gonna cut it.

Pay attention to cobalt327's cold water, this isn't a place where random and large cuts make it better. Get a copy of David Vizards book How to Build & Modify Chevrolet Small-Block V-8 Cylinder Heads It'll make you a lot smarter on the subject in less time than it takes to screw up a set of heads. Though as heads go the SBC's are pretty forgiving of screw ups, not ideal, but forgiving.

Bogie

[1BAD80]

There are a few articles on DYI in the Knowledge Base on this site.

http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/cylinder-head-articles

[Schoust]

You know I think that is a good idea Cobalt I think I will get it flowed the last thing I want to do is put a ton a time into this only to find that the things does not flow much at all. What Vortehc castings are the good ones? I will start looking for them. As far as the numbers go we talked about this a while back on another thread and we were not able to figure out what they were? What other casting's will work good that I might find while hunting the yard or Flea Bay??
Thanks Guy's

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by Schoust

You know I think that is a good idea Cobalt I think I will get it flowed the last thing I want to do is put a ton a time into this only to find that the things does not flow much at all. What Vortehc castings are the good ones? I will start looking for them. As far as the numbers go we talked about this a while back on another thread and we were not able to figure out what they were? What other casting's will work good that I might find while hunting the yard or Flea Bay??
Thanks Guy's

The only "bad" Vortec's are ones that are cracked, badly warped or otherwise unusable. The casting numbers are 10239906 (casting has one large single hump on the end of the head) and 12558062 (casting has 3 small humps, aka sawtooth).

Don't believe it if you hear that 906 castings have bad exhaust seats or ports, or flow poorly- it's not true. Those heads might have hardened seats w/a lip where the seat and head interface. This can be easily smoothed and the heads will then flow basically the same.

A LOT of info on Vortec heads and mods to them, etc. is HERE.