tbfirebird

Okay im pulling the exhaust manifolds just started and didnt even get one side off but was wondering if i could polish the exhaust ports.with the cycleander heads on the engine still since when i turn on the car all the exhaust will be pushed out with all the crap.That came off when i polished it and i was going to gasket match the exhaust ports.Just to add a gain with the headers.

deepstage69

iTrader: (2)

Well im not saying you cant, but when you turn the engine off, one of the exhaust valves can be open or half way open, and for that reason if you go to grinding metal it will fall down the open valve. You would be better off taking the heads off and porting and polishing the intakes and exhausts.

Kevin

tbfirebird

could'nt i just put a rag in there and then just gasket match the exhaust ports the just go in like a inch or so and the pull the rag out?

also dont when you pull the spark plugs out and you chase them dosent some of the crap (dirt) go in there.

deepstage69

iTrader: (2)

You could i guess, but i dont think you would see a hp diff. and when chasing a spark plug threads very little metal is being taken off. where as porting takes off lots of metal.

Kevin

tbfirebird

Oh um im just going to polish things up around the heads.

87Formula4bbl

I would say that it's not going to be worth the 1) risk of getting junk down in your cylinders from open valves, 2) the hassle of doing so, and 3) the time to do such because your not going to see any difference from it.

Later,
-Ben

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

What you really want to gasket match is the headers - leave the heads alone. You want the exhaust to have a bigger space to move into as it proceeds outward, and any kind of sharp blockage (such as a header flange) will create turbulance that will really hamper flow. Make the header flange openings slightly larger than the exhaust ports, and you'll spend your time in a manner that will actually produce improvement. Just polishing a small bit of the port opening won't do a thing, and gasket matching the ports w/o doing the same to the header flange can actually reduce performance.

87daddyformula

Some people have said that polishing will not give you a noticable benefit; they are exactly right...Polishing actually doesn't do anything and is way overated. The only thing that will give you a improvement in performance is porting and you would have to take the heads off to do that...if you feel the need to polish your heads I would say that not taking off the heads when you do that would more than hinder any improvement that you might see, if any. I wouldn't chance it...if you are going to be doing anything to the heads that has the chance of dislodging any shavings of metal or dirt, TAKE THEM OFF, period. Its just good technique...which is exactly what produces great engines!!!