self porting any done this? - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

bradslt5 · 12-17-2007

well times are tight , but its winter and i got to keep busy. so i thought i might try to port the injector housings and plenum my self . has anyone tried this and what does one need to do the job. any guidence i would be very gratefull for . I am not trying to take money away from anyone ,I just cant afford to send this out right now .

flyin ryan · 12-17-2007

don't go too BIG. try to keep the taper around 4% best you can. have you ever picked up a die grinder?

bradslt5 · 12-17-2007

thank you for the info . no i need to get a di grinder what one is best plus what type of attachment will i need . would removing most of the injector hump create the biggest gain ? i have a done set (by corey) on my other car would having those in front of me help?

GrayZ · 12-17-2007

Brad, this is just my humble opinion, but, throughout
my many travels, it seems most of the time, i attack
a mechanical problem, without the aid of an expert
it ends up, costing me, the parts
i screw up, plus the cost of the initial mechanic fee.
jeffvette, has got a "Honey" of a deal, goin right now.
Him and LocoBob have done ton's of these porting jobs.
I'd go with the pro's. Or not.

blackjack · 12-17-2007

the thing is to make all those holes similar,and believe me,it aint easy...i port harley heads,only 4 holes and i have to retouch a couple of times...i bought goldstein's plenum and injector housings from his drag car,and recontoured it myself around the injector nozzle...thats when i realized i dont have the patience for 16 ports !! like we say in the harley world,dont play jerry branch unless you ARE jerry branch
first thing youll do is slip with the die grinder,and notch the valve seat !!...
next,your injector housing port wont align with the plenum and/or the heads...then you will drop chips in the motor,'cause you will forget about that little pocket full of debris...
you can still go ahead and do it,but remember....we told you so !!

jmho
bj

bradslt5 · 12-17-2007

thankyou guys . i would be a fool not to listen to you.

so I guess i will have to find another project . i am very thankfull that you guys were honest enough to tell it like it is . merry xmas to all

flyin ryan · 12-17-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradslt5

thankyou guys . i would be a fool not to listen to you.

so I guess i will have to find another project . i am very thankfull that you guys were honest enough to tell it like it is . merry xmas to all

i port NHRA/IHRA legal Super Stock & Competition Eliminator heads weekly & there is way, way more to it than a lot/most people want to believe. i get into conversations with customers & they say you make it sound so easy, i tell them it ONLY took me 20 years. i think your being smart/honest with your self. nothing wrong with that

.

cuisinartvette · 12-18-2007

Im with Ryan...There are a million guys out there that say they can and then there are those in the industry who stand out in my mind as "gifted" (and Im not one of em).....Although I do enjoy doing my own stuff and some for a few friends believe me if I had a real high buck piece that Ive never tackled before and I had the cash Id put the ego aside and pay for it, these LT5 pieces are too expensive for one to learn on. Gotta know your lmits..

Dont listen to the stuff you read on other forums who read the back of a $20 standard abrasives cartridge roll kit and know it all

True talent costs $$

Locobob · 12-18-2007

Brad

I started my porting side business by doing my own intake a few years ago so I can give you some good insight.

First off you'll need a fair amount of tools and equipment, if you have to buy all of this stuff just to do one job it is not cost effective unless you have other uses for it. You will need the following: air compressor, 1/4in die grinder, cutting bits (the big ones are spendy), dial caliper, telescoping gauges, safety glasses, dust masks, and a multitude of sanding bits (I use drums, rolls, and flap wheels). This is just a bare minimum list, I have a host of other specialized stuff that I use. For example I have a angle grinder mounted on several feet of hard line with a valve at the end that I use to work the inside of the plenum through the throttle bore holes.

Second: time - it will take you at least 50hrs to do a decent job. The first few hours aren't bad but after a few days of breathing aluminum dust you may start to curse yourself for starting the project - been there.

Third: This is precision work, you'll need great patience and skill with small hand tools. Rush the job and you'll make costly mistakes.

I'm not trying to discourage you from doing it yourself but make no mistake - it is a big undertaking. If you choose to go for it read up on the subject as much as possible before taking tool in hand. I have a few threads floating around here and on the Corvette Forum which will be helpful to you. Also Jim Milstead did a great write up some years ago on CF but I'm not sure if it's still in the archives. Another guy to talk to is Bob Bloyer, he did his own intake several years ago with some internet guidence from yours truely.

bradslt5 · 12-18-2007

locobob , thankyou for the insight . i had decided against doing it my self after flyin ryans post . i had just wanted to get started on my red cae especially after buying kellis burn vic which gives me an extra engine and trans and 3rd member but not much else . but unexpected expenses. having to take on my sister house payment , the need for a full set of dentures, and a upcomming heart operation has stk me financially, my wife would kill me spending any extra money (rightfully so) so i had thought it was something i could do during my recovery. i will just ahve to wait till things loosen up to send them to you . what is the cost of the porting and powdercoating? thank you also for your honesty , very classy indeed

12-17-2007	#1
bradslt5 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: lone pine and mammoth lakes ca. Posts: 544	self porting any done this? well times are tight , but its winter and i got to keep busy. so i thought i might try to port the injector housings and plenum my self . has anyone tried this and what does one need to do the job. any guidence i would be very gratefull for . I am not trying to take money away from anyone ,I just cant afford to send this out right now .

12-17-2007	#2
flyin ryan Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta or Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 2,741	Re: self porting any done this? don't go too BIG. try to keep the taper around 4% best you can. have you ever picked up a die grinder? __________________ There are no limit's mans ingenuity, just as mans ingenuity will never conquer the forces & behavior of this planet...Smokey Y.

12-17-2007	#3
bradslt5 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: lone pine and mammoth lakes ca. Posts: 544	Re: self porting any done this? thank you for the info . no i need to get a di grinder what one is best plus what type of attachment will i need . would removing most of the injector hump create the biggest gain ? i have a done set (by corey) on my other car would having those in front of me help?

12-17-2007	#4
GrayZ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Innsbrook, Missouri Posts: 1,727	Re: self porting any done this? Brad, this is just my humble opinion, but, throughout my many travels, it seems most of the time, i attack a mechanical problem, without the aid of an expert it ends up, costing me, the parts i screw up, plus the cost of the initial mechanic fee. jeffvette, has got a "Honey" of a deal, goin right now. Him and LocoBob have done ton's of these porting jobs. I'd go with the pro's. Or not.

12-17-2007	#5
blackjack Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: north of montreal Posts: 510	Re: self porting any done this? the thing is to make all those holes similar,and believe me,it aint easy...i port harley heads,only 4 holes and i have to retouch a couple of times...i bought goldstein's plenum and injector housings from his drag car,and recontoured it myself around the injector nozzle...thats when i realized i dont have the patience for 16 ports !! like we say in the harley world,dont play jerry branch unless you ARE jerry branch first thing youll do is slip with the die grinder,and notch the valve seat !!... next,your injector housing port wont align with the plenum and/or the heads...then you will drop chips in the motor,'cause you will forget about that little pocket full of debris... you can still go ahead and do it,but remember....we told you so !! jmho bj

12-18-2007	#8
cuisinartvette Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Fernando Valley, CA. Posts: 896	Re: self porting any done this? Im with Ryan...There are a million guys out there that say they can and then there are those in the industry who stand out in my mind as "gifted" (and Im not one of em).....Although I do enjoy doing my own stuff and some for a few friends believe me if I had a real high buck piece that Ive never tackled before and I had the cash Id put the ego aside and pay for it, these LT5 pieces are too expensive for one to learn on. Gotta know your lmits.. Dont listen to the stuff you read on other forums who read the back of a $20 standard abrasives cartridge roll kit and know it all True talent costs $$ __________________ 1990 ZR1, 142,000 miles-Black on black 4.09's Haibeck chip, 3"exh, K&N, meth inj. Last edited by cuisinartvette; 12-18-2007 at 05:43 AM.

12-18-2007	#9
Locobob Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,057	Re: self porting any done this? Brad I started my porting side business by doing my own intake a few years ago so I can give you some good insight. First off you'll need a fair amount of tools and equipment, if you have to buy all of this stuff just to do one job it is not cost effective unless you have other uses for it. You will need the following: air compressor, 1/4in die grinder, cutting bits (the big ones are spendy), dial caliper, telescoping gauges, safety glasses, dust masks, and a multitude of sanding bits (I use drums, rolls, and flap wheels). This is just a bare minimum list, I have a host of other specialized stuff that I use. For example I have a angle grinder mounted on several feet of hard line with a valve at the end that I use to work the inside of the plenum through the throttle bore holes. Second: time - it will take you at least 50hrs to do a decent job. The first few hours aren't bad but after a few days of breathing aluminum dust you may start to curse yourself for starting the project - been there. Third: This is precision work, you'll need great patience and skill with small hand tools. Rush the job and you'll make costly mistakes. I'm not trying to discourage you from doing it yourself but make no mistake - it is a big undertaking. If you choose to go for it read up on the subject as much as possible before taking tool in hand. I have a few threads floating around here and on the Corvette Forum which will be helpful to you. Also Jim Milstead did a great write up some years ago on CF but I'm not sure if it's still in the archives. Another guy to talk to is Bob Bloyer, he did his own intake several years ago with some internet guidence from yours truely. __________________ Robert ZR-1 Net Registry Oregon State Director 91 ZR-1 #431 Black/Black LPE 368 Last edited by Locobob; 12-18-2007 at 06:09 AM.

12-18-2007	#10
bradslt5 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: lone pine and mammoth lakes ca. Posts: 544	Re: self porting any done this? locobob , thankyou for the insight . i had decided against doing it my self after flyin ryans post . i had just wanted to get started on my red cae especially after buying kellis burn vic which gives me an extra engine and trans and 3rd member but not much else . but unexpected expenses. having to take on my sister house payment , the need for a full set of dentures, and a upcomming heart operation has stk me financially, my wife would kill me spending any extra money (rightfully so) so i had thought it was something i could do during my recovery. i will just ahve to wait till things loosen up to send them to you . what is the cost of the porting and powdercoating? thank you also for your honesty , very classy indeed