Steam Hole Drilling
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 172
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Steam Hole Drilling
I'm going the "no replacement for displacement" route and will be putting AFR 190 heads on a 400 block. Therefore I'll be drilling the steam holes in the heads on this street/track car. Any specific details (angles, dia., etc. )? Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (bigjack)
I would contact AFR...I had a 400 sb and if I remember the steam hole do go in at an angle to intersect the water passage but I cannot tell you the angle :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (bigjack)
FWIW, there are several of us running 400 blocks w/out the steam holes. Our cars came with pretty good cooling systems.
Just a tad better than 70's Impalas, trucks, etc. ;)
Just a tad better than 70's Impalas, trucks, etc. ;)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
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From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (bigjack)
I had AFR do mine, it's part #1260 at 60 bucks. I felt it worthwhile to do. As with most of the stuff we do with mods, there are various trains of thought. My feeling is a street car experiences lower RPMs and lower speeds than a track car, so I wanted to hedge my bet and release some heat from those siamesed bores. My car is definately a street car, so there ya go :lol:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
Likes: 0
From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (Caboboy)
drill steam holes only if you want head gasket problems
you do not need them on the street or strip proven fact :cheers:
you do not need them on the street or strip proven fact :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (CORKVETTE1)
4 engines, drilled steam holes each time, no head gasket problems
I used standard .039 gaskets 2 times, .021 thick Copper once and .027 Cometic once.
just my .02
I used standard .039 gaskets 2 times, .021 thick Copper once and .027 Cometic once.
just my .02
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 3
From: Mount Vernon OH
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (ld85)
400 small block should have heads drilled...I have them on my street driven S-10 that runs 9's and no leaks. Good gaskets, proper torque sequence and flat clean surfaces do make a differnce. You will be a lot happier if you do it now before the engine goes together because once it is together and you have to pull it back apart. If you can get it done for $60 it is great insurance.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (bigjack)
AFR drilled mine for next to nothing.I have "Murphy's Luck" ,so I wouldn't risk the drilling operation myself.On the heat issue,I beg to differ.I boiled over three times just trying to break in my cam,and ultimately ended up with a Griffen aluminum radiator to keep it cool.But I push close to 500hp too,so it's bound to get hot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
Likes: 0
From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (NitrousSam)
nitrous sam i know what you mean with those s10 i built one for a guy in the early 90s or late 80s high 9s on the motor low 9s at 144+ mph on a 250 shot yee haw those s10 are so dam lite you can throw allmost anything in them and make them fly
i might buld another one for myself in the future but i would want high 7s to low 8s :cheers:
i might buld another one for myself in the future but i would want high 7s to low 8s :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 3
From: Mount Vernon OH
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (CORKVETTE1)
Cork, My S-10 dropped 100 lbs over the winter with light weight aerospace brakes, Meziere water pump, trimmed core support, lighter front tires, trimed under the hood, put an air pan on it all in the quest to go 8's in street trim. Last time I had it out I went 9.41 so I have a ways to go but I am going to add some extra juice and fuel and see if I might get an 8.90 on E.T Streets. Building an S-10 is a bit of a challenge because I was so space limited and the engine sits pretty far forward and setting it back much is an issue without major firewall surgery but it has been a fun project and my friends like it. We are going to take it to Dragway 42 in Ohio in a week or two depending on the weather and I will shoot some photos and video of it launching...the first 50-60 feet are fun. I sent you an e-mail tonight regarding your 700R4 experience. Truck can be seen at: http://www.sammiller.com/truckpg.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
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From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (NitrousSam)
sam we do alot of testing out at dragawy 42 maybe we will meet up some time
hopefully me and jesse will have these new motors installed and running by the end of the month :cheers:
hopefully me and jesse will have these new motors installed and running by the end of the month :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (NitrousSam)
Dragway 42 . . . Should be cool to get more than just a couple of us there. In addition to Sam and I, there are a few forum members from Columbus to Akron that have joined us.
As for the 406s, I have built 3 and used the steam holes in all of them with no problems. They may not be necessary, but I didn't have any bad experiences (well at least because of the steam holes). :thumbs:
As for the 406s, I have built 3 and used the steam holes in all of them with no problems. They may not be necessary, but I didn't have any bad experiences (well at least because of the steam holes). :thumbs:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 3
From: Mount Vernon OH
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (CORKVETTE1)
Send me an e-mail when you are heading out and we will meet you there for some fun at the track. I am very interested in seeing both your cars and setups.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
Likes: 0
From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (NitrousSam)
not to stir the pot but i built at least 2 dozen 400 base block setups now these were all higher hp motors i would say 450-500 hp crank hp on all of them and everytime i used steam holes i would lose the gasket and i used nothing but the best felpros we now have it cured to no steam holes and useing a marine gasket from felpro with no problems at these hp levels
now on a mild 400 or a stock 400 i would say you could probally get by the steam holes but when you start building cylinder pressures with a hot 400 or if you spray it you will run in to problems
on most of my 400s i build i come up with 200+ cranking psi and some times up too 240-250 psi so you can see there is some squeeze there to be adressed :cheers:
now on a mild 400 or a stock 400 i would say you could probally get by the steam holes but when you start building cylinder pressures with a hot 400 or if you spray it you will run in to problems
on most of my 400s i build i come up with 200+ cranking psi and some times up too 240-250 psi so you can see there is some squeeze there to be adressed :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
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From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (NitrousSam)
Send me an e-mail when you are heading out and we will meet you there for some fun at the track. I am very interested in seeing both your cars and setups.
sam it will be towards the end of april i hope :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
Likes: 0
From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (LT-4 CE)
Dragway 42 . . . Should be cool to get more than just a couple of us there. In addition to Sam and I, there are a few forum members from Columbus to Akron that have joined us.
As for the 406s, I have built 3 and used the steam holes in all of them with no problems. They may not be necessary, but I didn't have any bad experiences (well at least because of the steam holes). :thumbs:
As for the 406s, I have built 3 and used the steam holes in all of them with no problems. They may not be necessary, but I didn't have any bad experiences (well at least because of the steam holes). :thumbs:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
Re: Steam Hole Drilling (bigjack)
Sorry your thread got hi-jacked, but it looks like there are people with good and bad experiences with steam holes. I always used them without problem, others have had problems. Not really sure what to offer at this point.