porting your own heads
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Heppner, Oregon
RE: porting your own heads
Ironhead
I'm with you. I believe that we are led to believe if we try things ourselves we will fail and not get results. Over the years I have tried different things and have gotten pretty close to the same results as the big bucks. It takes ***** but I say go for it, we don't know what we are capable of until we do it. I believe by porting youself you will see gains, but how much is to be seen. After reading your post, next year when I do my rebuild I will probably do my own port job. If you do it keep us posted. Too damn many nay sayers that only read the book and talk to the moco that alwayssaysNO. I say go for it. There should be some wrenches around your area that are not related to the moco that could give you good info. Wishing you the best.
I'm with you. I believe that we are led to believe if we try things ourselves we will fail and not get results. Over the years I have tried different things and have gotten pretty close to the same results as the big bucks. It takes ***** but I say go for it, we don't know what we are capable of until we do it. I believe by porting youself you will see gains, but how much is to be seen. After reading your post, next year when I do my rebuild I will probably do my own port job. If you do it keep us posted. Too damn many nay sayers that only read the book and talk to the moco that alwayssaysNO. I say go for it. There should be some wrenches around your area that are not related to the moco that could give you good info. Wishing you the best.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,437
Likes: 15
RE: porting your own heads
I had GMR do a budget set of heads for me. CCed heads and then decked them to 83.2 cc's from 88 and 89 and put new blackdiamond kibbleWhite valves in and did mild port work and blended the valve seats etc.and polished the combustion chambers. Total cost was $275.
A while back I was putting in some .030 hg's and decided to clean up my stock heads myself. I used emery cloth and a dremel tool. I knocked all the rough spots down and removed all the powder coating from the valve bowls. I was carefull not to change the shape of anything just smooth things out. I polished the exhausts to a mirror finish and left the intakes a little rough. It took me 2 full days and I had sore and skinned up fingers after wards.
For $275 GMR or 299 BigBoys let the pros do it the results will be well worth it. I think one big secret to head success is getting the chambers cced so they are equal. Stock one of my chambers was 88 and the other 89cc's which are huge and if not corrected you are going to have low compression no matter what you do.
A while back I was putting in some .030 hg's and decided to clean up my stock heads myself. I used emery cloth and a dremel tool. I knocked all the rough spots down and removed all the powder coating from the valve bowls. I was carefull not to change the shape of anything just smooth things out. I polished the exhausts to a mirror finish and left the intakes a little rough. It took me 2 full days and I had sore and skinned up fingers after wards.
For $275 GMR or 299 BigBoys let the pros do it the results will be well worth it. I think one big secret to head success is getting the chambers cced so they are equal. Stock one of my chambers was 88 and the other 89cc's which are huge and if not corrected you are going to have low compression no matter what you do.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: porting your own heads
ORIGINAL: PhilM
I could probably sew up a gash in my arm, but think I'd prefer a Dr do it.
I could probably sew up a gash in my arm, but think I'd prefer a Dr do it.
RE: porting your own heads
thanks biggzed and schoney, that's basically what I was thinking, just get rid of the casting marks and do a little all-around smoothing. stock heads are easy to find, I know a guy who will give me his real cheap since he did a big bore and got aftermarket, so I figured I'd give it a shot. If I screw up I have a backup.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Heppner, Oregon
RE: porting your own heads
Ironhead
those who ride shovels and pans and those do things for themselves are becomming a dying breed amongst us. I applaud your ambition. It may not work but you will be one who tried. If it works, you then will be a teacher in the midst of us. Either way the knowledge you recieve you win.
those who ride shovels and pans and those do things for themselves are becomming a dying breed amongst us. I applaud your ambition. It may not work but you will be one who tried. If it works, you then will be a teacher in the midst of us. Either way the knowledge you recieve you win.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 748
Likes: 1
RE: porting your own heads
Ironhead,
I did the set on my Shovel. Like some of these guys said, I couldn't guage the results afterwords but any time you smooth out the air flow in and out you are going to do some good, period. I used a dremmel with various sanding and polishing tips being careful not to change the shape of the ports. I also did the inside of the intake manifold. Oh yeah, and don't forget to adjust the position of the jet in your carb to spray straight down the middle. My brand new S&S was shooting towards the front cylinder only.
Been running the bike for 10 years since the work I did and haven't had any problems. Good luck with yours!
I did the set on my Shovel. Like some of these guys said, I couldn't guage the results afterwords but any time you smooth out the air flow in and out you are going to do some good, period. I used a dremmel with various sanding and polishing tips being careful not to change the shape of the ports. I also did the inside of the intake manifold. Oh yeah, and don't forget to adjust the position of the jet in your carb to spray straight down the middle. My brand new S&S was shooting towards the front cylinder only.
Been running the bike for 10 years since the work I did and haven't had any problems. Good luck with yours!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,782
From: Western South Dakota
RE: porting your own heads
To go along those lines; would it better to have your stock heads professionaly cnc ported, and flowed by a more than competent porter, or just buy the SE Heads? I think that most think having them done would be better than buying the SE's. Am I correct in this assumption? The SE's cost as much as would a good port andflowjob. Not really any difference price wise.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,437
Likes: 15
RE: porting your own heads
ORIGINAL: powdercoater
mtclassic - if you had powder coating inside your heads I would NEVER take anything back to them!
mtclassic - if you had powder coating inside your heads I would NEVER take anything back to them!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Brookfield,Il.
RE: porting your own heads
Without having a Flo bench and anyway of really checking to see how the heads are flowing your flying blind. There are so many professionals that are more than fair for the amount of work it takes. We have done our own heads here and have a nice flexi shaft grinder, but if it's for a customer I would want to be able to verify the improvements that I have made via a flow bench. Call Branch, Carl's Speed Shop, Head Quarters, Zippers, Big Boyz etc.