I'm not an expert on porting, head flow, or the physics behind either of those, but as tjm4fun said, there are casting flaws that can be removed that obviously impact both head flow and velocity, netting gains even on the low end where the heads aren't flowing anything compared to their potential. From my limited understanding of how fuel and air interact, I believe there could also be benefits in porting that includes more velocity from the work he's doing, and thus more lower end, even if the engine never revs high enough, has the proper cams for, or the proper intake for using most of the raw flow potential.
quote
Originally posted by 4-mulaGT:
Where can you get performance parts (valvetrain, low end, headers) for the TDC?
Or dont they make them?
Anywhere that will make custom stuff. That's the downfall of the LQ1.
Edit: I own page 3! Bwahaha!
[This message has been edited by Fiero Brick (edited 03-29-2006).]
In my experience one very important thing you must be mindful of is to insure the porting improvements do not exceed the capabilities of the intake, in other words the intake runners need to be improved just as much as the head runners when a considerable amount of metal is being removed or you'll end up with the headache I did on a stroker motor.
The physics behind it is very important and can't be ignored, air traveling through a chamber at a constant rate will slow down if the chamber cross section area increases and in my case it slowed down so much that low end performance was reduced to the point that I could easily feel the loss on acceleration and to add insult to injury there was no top end gain because the TPI intake and runners were still stock, so double wammy! no wait I also had trouble with higher engine temperatures so tripple wammy! and it was then that I understood what the machinest years earlier meant when he said doing much more than a mild touch up on my heads would slow my intake charge going into the engine and reduce performance.
So becareful and make sure you work equally as hard on the intake, and I was thinking the same thing before it was mentioned earlier, the rotary files will do you a nice favor, so much so that you might throw those sand stones in the trash. Nice work.
Been REALLY busy lately. I dont know when I will get around to finishing these up but im hoping before the end of summer. Just a bump for those still interested.
Been REALLY busy lately. I dont know when I will get around to finishing these up but im hoping before the end of summer. Just a bump for those still interested.
Psssst... Summer is long past, it's almost Christmas...
Nolan
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04:02 PM
Jan 13th, 2007
GT2efiero Member
Posts: 285 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Registered: Jan 2007
Fieromadman Just wondering if you've been able to make any process on those heads? I've been really intrigued with this whole process and interested in your first experiance driving with those newly improved ports.
BTW this is an impressive thead just hoping your able to find time to keep us posted. thanks for all the pics it helps with those of us who are planning on attemping this project
I do hope that we hear from Jeff again... he had a falling out with another member on this board in the real world and may have gotten scared off. Too bad really. His car is pretty damn fast, and he seemed like a nice guy.
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09:08 PM
Mar 26th, 2007
fieromadman Member
Posts: 2217 From: Oconomowoc WI, USA Registered: Jan 2003
This isn't dead yet! I seem to want something new done to my Fiero each spring and I think it's finally time for the ported heads to get done. Thanks for your kind words and keeping this thread alive!
Well this thread wont be updated much with progress until mid may Im thinking because that is when I will be out of college. I just dont have the time otherwise to work on it. I will be purchasing another porting kit before then, I'll let you know how it looks when I get it!
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08:36 PM
joshua riedl Member
Posts: 1426 From: watertown wi USA Registered: Jan 2004
I made it to the dells, I kicked Josh's ass, and I do intend to keep you guys informed when the time comes that I have time to work on these. As for the hmmm.... I dont know how else to respond other than hmmmm?
Also, I haven't given up on porting!
3.4 DOHC Exhaust manifolds (two front ones, one mounted on the rear) I just cleaned these up and for the one mounted on the rear, while the ports do match up they aren't perfect by any means so I just gasket matched them to work best:
This is the one that needed the most work on the port/gasket matching to get the front one to fit on the rear properly.
3.4 96-97 Lower intake manifold. This one got gasket matched and casting flaws removed along with a silky smooth polish job. This was my first time ever using the polishing cross buffs. I was VERY pleased with the result. I kind of rushed through them too and they still turned out! The cross buffs should make the exhaust side of the heads clean up damn nice. Like I said before, the intake side of the head wont get polished, just finer grit cartridges will be used on it.
Anyhow, pics of the lower intake mani:
I've just been practicing porting on less time intensive and valuable things, see?
------------------ --180* t-stat, cams, 96-97 intake swap, FFP pulley, A/C Idler, P/S idler, Ported exhaust mani's, flowmaster exhaust, EGR delete, K&N filter, chip-- --13.8 @ 99 (before cams full street trim)-- --Check out the Fiero Kingdom!-- Beater: Flat black 90 CRX with a JDM D15 VTEC <--ballin'!
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09:39 PM
PFF
System Bot
Oct 18th, 2007
fieromadman Member
Posts: 2217 From: Oconomowoc WI, USA Registered: Jan 2003
I'm going to try and figure out machining costs so that I can get a good estimate on how much it will cost me to finish up this project. Hopefully it will be low enough that I can go ahead with it without worrying! I can't wait to get my nose filled with micro aluminum shavings again!
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03:18 AM
joshua riedl Member
Posts: 1426 From: watertown wi USA Registered: Jan 2004
I thought that I would update you guys on the porting kit that I ordered in order to be able to polish, and I was running low on porting bits anyhow. I really like this kit ALOT more than the cheapy summit kit that I bought before. It's worth the extra 15 bux. Here is a link and the summit part number is SAI-260001: http://store.summitracing.c...430+115&autoview=sku
You can get smaller cross buffs as well, and I recommend doing that because the cross buffs that are included in this kit might work well for the larger port areas of the head, but they are going to be too large for the smaller areas like the bowls. I'm getting stoked about finishing this project.
Anyone know how much it would cost to flow test some heads? I would like to know my improvements when I'm done. Thanks!
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06:16 PM
Jan 22nd, 2008
fieromadman Member
Posts: 2217 From: Oconomowoc WI, USA Registered: Jan 2003
I did some head porting over my christmas break. Unfortunatly it wasnt on any of my heads. I was porting and polishing my brothers head for his Integra GSR. It turned out very well! That should be installed within the next few weeks and I can't wait to see how the modifications help!
Beyond that, finishing up a set of cyl heads is REALLY making me want to do mine. I also am getting sick of the performance my Fiero has currently, so looking for something more means ported heads are basically the only thing in my price range currently. I'm going to get going on the ported heads sometime in the very near future!
SORRY FOR SLACKING!
------------------ --180* t-stat, cams, 96-97 intake swap, FFP pulley, A/C Idler, P/S idler, ported exhaust mani's, ported lower intake, flowmaster exhaust, EGR delete, K&N filter, Darth Chip-- --13.8 @ 99 (before cams full street trim)-- --Check out the Fiero Kingdom!-- Beater: Flat black 90 CRX with a JDM D15 VTEC <--ballin'!
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02:42 AM
slinger Member
Posts: 1403 From: grand rapids MI Registered: May 2006
The car is all tucked away for the winter. I got a chip from sinister based off the chip from the other guy that has the cams in his car. I haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but Im hoping that will fix my idle. If not I'll be trying an O2 sensor. I also need to get my crossover tube re-welded.
As for turboing, its in my plans, but for now I'm a broke college student who can barely make by as it is. I could do it over the summer when I'm working full time, but it would be half assed and I've learned to not do anything half assed to my Fiero. I know I would regret it if I did.
I'll keep you updated on my progress, shouldn't be too long now before I get back to the porting.
------------------ --180* t-stat, cams, 96-97 intake swap, FFP pulley, A/C Idler, P/S idler, ported exhaust mani's, ported lower intake, flowmaster exhaust, EGR delete, K&N filter, Darth Chip-- --13.8 @ 99 (before cams full street trim)-- --Check out the Fiero Kingdom!-- Beater: Flat black 90 CRX with a JDM D15 VTEC <--ballin'!
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12:49 AM
Feb 12th, 2008
fieromadman Member
Posts: 2217 From: Oconomowoc WI, USA Registered: Jan 2003
Well that weekend I worked on porting a head but it wasnt mine unfortunatly. It's an Integra GSR head for my brothers car. All finished up now. Here are some before and after pictures. If my heads turn out this well I'll be happy! Once again, next time I get home (the end of this month for spring break) I plan on working on the heads again.
Integra GSR head before:
Overview:
Intake:
Intake Bowls:
Exhaust:
Exhaust Bowls:
Integra GSR head after:
Overview:
Intake:
Intake Bowls:
Exhaust:
Exhaust Bowls:
As you can see ported intake side, ported and polished exhaust side!
------------------ --180* t-stat, cams, 96-97 intake swap, FFP pulley, A/C Idler, P/S idler, ported exhaust mani's, ported lower intake, flowmaster exhaust, EGR delete, K&N filter, Darth Chip-- --13.8 @ 99 (before cams full street trim)-- --Check out the Fiero Kingdom!-- Beater: Flat black 90 CRX with a JDM D15 VTEC <--ballin'!
Summer is long past, it's almost Christmas... 
Awesome thread!
