I have started my 3800 build. I went and got another moter so I could rebuild it and get the car ready for the turbo. By the looks of the pictures it looks like I haven't got a lot done but let me tell you porting and polishing is no joke and it takes a lot of time. I have got the throttle body done and I'm working on the heads now. I about have one of them done. The exhaust ports had to be opened up a whole lot, you can tell by the pictures.

 

Glad to see you are starting your build! Be very careful porting the heads as I've seen people try porting them and when done they looked great but flowed worse than factory heads do to increased turbulence instead of a more free flow.

When done you should flow test them to see how they flow compared to stock heads

I can't wait to see more progress!!!!

 

This is a big undertaking that will be fun to follow. Great pics Shelby! Keep 'em coming!

 

Nice project, can't wait to see more progress and the finished project. Good luck.

 

Does anyone have an experience porting and polishing these heads?

 

That is something I don't know how to do. I sent mine out to have Ported but it costs a lot!

 

I'll start off by saying, very cool project. It's fun building an engine from the block up. With that said, I hope that you didn't just ruin your heads. When I was in college, I ported a set of heads that I was going to install on my Monte. The school had a flow bench and everything so I was able to do lots of before and after tests. Unfortunately I screwed up by opening/changing the shape of the exhaust ports. If I would have left it in a "D" shape it would have flowed much better. I ended up throwing the heads away because I couldn't get them to flow as good as stock heads.

The leason I learned was that you have to be VERY careful porting heads. Also, polish the exhaust side of the heads only. Intake should be a little rough for better flow.

 

thanks zipper, i read about this a few places but couldnt remember what caused them to flow so bad once ported..... now that you mentioned the "D" shape thats what it was.

 

Nice to see another big project get off the ground, going to be a fair amount of work, sweet to see your getting into this with both feet. I sent all my work out to have done as I chose not to get into the arena and make my motor hold together at the high pressure levels where I was going to go with it. Had one build pop after only 1500 miles and that was done by a shop who was supposed to know what they were doing... Luckily for everyone else they are now out of business.

So best of luck on your endeavors, will follow this thread and see where you take her. Another set of heads is chump change for you, just have to learn from your mistakes if you have in fact screwed up your current ones. Hopefully you will get lucky and did not.

 

Thank's Zippy.

After getting one head half way done I did decided to research it and that's what I found also. I didn't want to believe it and was trying to find a way to salvage it but I haven't found one yet. After reading what you wrote I'm sure it's a goner. I have always been around small block's and just assumed you did the 38's the same way, WRONG! But at least I can get back to work on the other one now. Hopefully I can get this one right. lol



If you leave out the plastic runners in the intake manifold will it help or hurt you?