Can I improve these heads before fitting them?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 3
From: Goulburn, Australia NSW
Can I improve these heads before fitting them?
I have a pair of new AFR 180 aluminium heads and Edelbrock Performer manifold sitting here waiting for me to extract the digit and get my motor rebuilt......might be a while yet cause it's summer here.
What I'd like to know is there anything I can or should do to these bits before actually putting them on?
Inlet port matching and/or pocket porting.
Any suggestions?
What I'd like to know is there anything I can or should do to these bits before actually putting them on?
Inlet port matching and/or pocket porting.
Any suggestions?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Re: Can I improve these heads before fitting them? (Brutus)
Don't keep secrets from us! What do you plan to do with this car? For crusing around town, just bolt 'em on and be happy. If you want a bit more punch try gasket matching the ports. Get undersize gaskets and match them to the manifold, then transfer the gaskets to the heads and scribe your outline. A bit of work with a file set or Dremel tool should help a lot. Don't go too deep, just smooth the flow. Repeat on the exhausts when you've got the engine apart. Bowl smoothing will help too but it's a lot easier to make a mess than a better flow. Try a set of junk heads first and you'll see what I mean. You end up going just a bit more here, then here, then here etc...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 6
From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Can I improve these heads before fitting them? (Brutus)
I don't know. Those AFR heads are already CNC machined. I am not sure I would want to mess up their nice machining job. I know they aren't cheap. I would think they are already port matched. :confused:
AC
AC
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: Can I improve these heads before fitting them? (A C)
I just bolted my AFR 190 heads on the motor. I did clean up the intake a little around the ports to match the heads. I would not touch the heads maybe the intake slightly to match the heads.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: Can I improve these heads before fitting them? (Brutus)
I went to the AFR web site and I couldn't determine the recomended intake gasket for your 180cc. What is it?
I then went to the Edelbrock site and your Performer Recommended intake gasket: Edelbrock #7201 or Fel-Pro #1256.
If your heads are bigger than the 1256 don't put on that manifold. Go to a higher RPM intake that matches the heads.
If they are not pocket ported. They need to be. I also take the time to smooth and contour the outboard oil return side of the heads. I just put a round bit on and make a channel then polish it out.
I then went to the Edelbrock site and your Performer Recommended intake gasket: Edelbrock #7201 or Fel-Pro #1256.
If your heads are bigger than the 1256 don't put on that manifold. Go to a higher RPM intake that matches the heads.
If they are not pocket ported. They need to be. I also take the time to smooth and contour the outboard oil return side of the heads. I just put a round bit on and make a channel then polish it out.
