CentralCoaster

Here's two BEFORE pics....





Wrestled them outta the car. Drivers side was a pain. Putting it back in was a breeze. Here's a pic with the heatshield removed.



I've heard of oval port, and round port, and square port, but not "mis-shapen blob" port:



Maybe Percy's aluminum dead soft gaskets weren't the best choice given the small flange size on these. But this pic gives you a good idea of how restrictive the ports are:



I ported it with my Dremel. I found that the cheapo ceramic discs worked best, a few stacked on top of eachother used all at once. I realized this after burning up 3 expensive ceramic grinding bits. The flanges are welded on the inside (stupid GM :cuss), so I accidentally cut all the way through one port. I took em to the shop and welded up the upper part of ALL the flanges though, I figured if one cut through, the others were probably thin also. My welds suck, but they did the trick.



I then sandblasted them and followed the instructions on the hi-temp paint to the letter. Here they are after painting and 'curing' in the oven. I'm very doubtful the paint will last though. It seems to come off easily.



Now, here's another purdy thing to put on there, along with refurbed injectors. I did more polishing since this pic, and painted the grooves black.



And finally, some pics of it all put back together with pretty new plug wires: (And notice the polished fuel rail)







Now, if only I could get the damn car to run like it did! It runs like crap, and I have a whole 'nother thread about that in C4 Tech. Until then, I can't give you any SOTP, GTECH, or sound comparisons to how it was before.

You guys wanna bet I'll fail the CA smog visual inspection with my factory exhaust? :lol: :rolleyes:


[Modified by CentralCoaster, 3:57 PM 8/14/2003]

65Z01

Very nice work; I didn't get my headers that clean and the paint didn't last but the porting work is nice.

I suggest you install the heat shields to protect the plug wires, especially those running under the EGR tube and over the headers.

Bodhi

:thumbs:

Wheelman

So you left the factory heat shields off when you were done?? Just curious if you noticed any increased heat coming from the engine after you did this, because i would like to do the same, as those things look like crap....Also what gaskets would you recommend and where did you get them.....
Thanks in advance...

atotalnincompoop

that looks great now :yesnod: :thumbs:

jimmyd

looks prety good. :thumbs: :cool:

CentralCoaster

At this point I can't make any recommendations, becauses I haven't gotten the car running properly enough to test this stuff. I think I may still have an exhaust leak from the 3 bolt flange to the y-pipe, and the AIR tube isn't sealed up on the cat. I might have bad injectors, so I'm tearing into it right now. I may also just gut the smog pump, since it doesn't really do anything anyways except when the engine is cold.

I'll make a full report when I'm back on the road.

I do realize that by dumping the factory heat shields, I'll probably increase my underhood temps, and the chance of burning a plug wire or harness. And insulated headers are better, since the exhaust gasses retain their heat, and have the highest velocity.

But.. they look like crap, and take up space, that's the only reason I took em off.


[Modified by CentralCoaster, 3:36 PM 8/14/2003]

Steven P

:cool: :cool: :thumbs:

scorp508

Did you fire some clearcoat onto that baby? I wish I did after polishing mine up. Looks great.

Sun King

:thumbs: :thumbs:

Bruthish

Looks great...looks like a new motor! :thumbs:

AGENT 86

Looks good Kevin :cool:

IBEAM700

Awesome Job.. :thumbs:

oldace84

Thanks for sharing, geart pixs.
Great job.
tony
:chevy :party: :party: :chevy

bogus

that is impressive! :thumbs:

35th

:thumbs:

H P Bushrod

Beautiful job! Wanna' do my '85? :D

BAM92

:iagree: I am next!