Anyone got vids of porting their hardware?

[Schrade]

Title says it all here gentlemen...

Who here has done this? Your results / experiences???

Links?

I cleaned and polished the intake passages in an old '87 L98, with a drill and wire brush, and I know I took some metal out; whether it even amounted to porting, I doubt, but it sure seemed to draw a little more air afterwards...........

Is porting LT5 done with eccentricities in the passages? Or is it just uniform through the tubes???

[flame suit on here]

[efnfast]

Schrade, that you inside that flame suit?

[Paul Workman]

I'm not aware of a video - most that do that porting want to keep secrets close to the chest. But most of the really tricky stuff...most of it...is in the heads. The plenum and IHs are for the most part concentric, except for the injector bosses. (If you go that route, and get to that point, post up and I or someone will steer you around those bosses. BTW, if you have a 90 LT5, you can completely remove the primary IH injector boss; somewhat of an exclusive advantage of porting a 90.)

As a point of reference, using "real" die grinders and bits, it is going to require 1-2 hours per port on the plenum and 2-3 or more per IH runner. I can't imagine what it would take using a drill.

After some initial experimentation, here are some tools that I believe you might appreciate (and others have their favorites too)...





Pictured is a Makita constant speed electric die grinder, but by far my favorite turned out to be the Snap-On pneumatic tool.

These bits are what I used, but there are others that you might like better. A machine supply outfit is where I got all "the good stuff", including the 3/4x2" sanding drums and arbors, and lube.

Not pictured are "Pete's balls". No, not the hairy ones, but a set of steel ball bearings; one a 35mm and one a 36mm ball used as gauges to get the diameters "right".

When you get to the point of port matching the heads, hollar. There are some decisions to make...

[Schrade]

Thanks there Mr. W...

So DIY porting is not un-common? What safeguards / tips should be taken?

Who here has done this? Your results / experiences???

Are any of the grinding tips 'disintegrate-able'? Like the Dremel polishing / sanding tips? They work PERFECT for prepping my guns for Parkerization, since they gradually disintegrate, and leave a media-blasting etching effect.

Injector boss? Is there no aerodynamic at the boss that assists in atomization / AF dispersal?

IH? Intake ... Head???

No efnfast - not me in the suit. I was prepping for flaming @ the idea of DIY porting. I thought it was done only by a computer with laser-guided grinders...

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Schrade

Thanks there Mr. W...

So DIY porting is not un-common? What safeguards / tips should be taken?

Who here has done this? Your results / experiences???

Are any of the grinding tips 'disintegrate-able'? Like the Dremel polishing / sanding tips? They work PERFECT for prepping my guns for Parkerization, since they gradually disintegrate, and leave a media-blasting etching effect.

Injector boss? Is there no aerodynamic at the boss that assists in atomization / AF dispersal?

IH? Intake ... Head???

No efnfast - not me in the suit. I was prepping for flaming @ the idea of DIY porting. I thought it was done only by a computer with laser-guided grinders...

Except for Pete's CNC headwork, now available, all of the FBI plenum and IH porting has been done by hand. It would be nice to have a CNC program for the IHs and the plenum. But, far as I know, only Pete can provide CNC ported heads (only).

As for cutting, being that it is aluminum, fluted tungsten-carbide bits, like some of those in my post, is what does the heavy lifting. The final shaping "easy does it" cutting is done with drum sanders on small pneumatic die grinders, as well as an assortment of abrasive "flap wheels" - the smaller (1/2"x1/8" shaft) wheels I used on my Dremel for tight spots and precision work. Forget about using abrasive stones on aluminum. Trust me. The stones get loaded up with aluminum in a heartbeat.

Here you can see that the finish of the flap wheels turns out very nice. (Also note the small flap wheel on the small die grinder)



As for atomization, I suppose there is some advantage to the bulbous injector bosses at idle or very low speeds. But, without them, mine...



...seems to idle smooth and fuel economy is not affected, from what I can see. (However, my idle was bumped to 850 - up from 750 stock just for that reason.) And, considering the boss occludes maybe 1/3 of the cross-sectional area of the primary (90) IH runner, the offsetting power increase by removing it waaaay overcomes any perceived idle speed advantages, IMO.

Just keep your cut concentric with the stock bore axis, and you'll stand a better chance of not going astray. And, remember: air columns hate changes in direction!

I can understand if you want to do your own porting. I did all mine too, just because I wanted to learn more about the LT5. The LT5 wasn't my first rodeo by far, but it was my first aluminum porting attempt. I found it is waaay easier to get into trouble with aluminum, compared to cast iron, due to the fact the aluminum cuts so much easier that one can have an "oops" moment in a fraction of the time it takes with cast iron!

Anywayz... If ya just hafta do it, I can set you up with a "kit" comprised of an assortment of carbide bits and abrasives at cost for around $150. You'll have to select the grider(s) of choice. I'll just say stay away from the cheap crap. I found you really have to be rich to afford cheap tools. And, the frustration of having to work around the compromises the cheap crap brings...just isn't worth it.

P.

[Tony Davila]

Originally Posted by Schrade

Thanks there Mr. W...

So DIY porting is not un-common? What safeguards / tips should be taken?

Who here has done this? Your results / experiences???

Are any of the grinding tips 'disintegrate-able'? Like the Dremel polishing / sanding tips? They work PERFECT for prepping my guns for Parkerization, since they gradually disintegrate, and leave a media-blasting etching effect.

Injector boss? Is there no aerodynamic at the boss that assists in atomization / AF dispersal?

IH? Intake ... Head???

No efnfast - not me in the suit. I was prepping for flaming @ the idea of DIY porting. I thought it was done only by a computer with laser-guided grinders...

Schrade, will you be at the Gathering this year?

[Schrade]

Originally Posted by Tony Davila

Schrade, will you be at the Gathering this year?

I hadn't planned on it, but seeing that wrench activities are included; I think I am ........

I have to set up trailering rental; then...

... the shop wants the car on the 20th to complete 4L60e tranny repairs; otherwise, we have to go to Civil District court for the appeal.


ed.:
But in event that I cannot make it, and you're one of those who Mr. Workman says keep those porting secrets near and dear, I can forward PP $$ for information on DIY porting ... ; let me know here.

[Tony Davila]

I have no secrets to hide, I ported my intake/inj and heads myself. Over 80 hours of labor on just the heads. I must have done something right. I dyno'd 442 rwhp.

You have to be very careful with the heads or you will destroy them. I'll send you my contact number if you want to talk with me.

[Locobob]

Here are a couple I did way back when.... think they are probably already in an old post here somewhere.

[Schrade]

Are you getting substantial airflow increase? Did you happen to dyno before & after?

Originally Posted by Locobob

Here are a couple I did way back when.... think they are probably already in an old post here somewhere.