porting
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: porting
Are the 3.1 and 3.4 heads exactly the same? Does the 3.4 have bigger valves for example?
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Re: porting
All the '85-up HO 2.8 heads had the bigger valves. Third gens and Fieros got them, but S-10 TBI 2.8s did NOT get the bigger valves.
I already ported the 2.8 heads and bolted them to my 3.4, which is now in the car but hasn't yet started.
I worry that I made one spot in one exhaust port too thin, and I fear it may crack. If so, I want to have this pair ready to swap on.
So far as I can tell, these '93 3.4 heads are identical to my '86 2.8 heads in every way that would affect performance / fitment.
I should do some "before" numbers on a flowbench, but funds are ultra tight these days.
I think it enough to know that doing the 2.8 to 3.4 swap, with a 204/214-112 cam, has been shown to drop the RPM of peak HP down by at least 200 RPM, and that this is gaining nearly 25% more cylinder under each combustion chamber, so 25% more port area is no problem, and 25% more flow is needed.
I doubt I'll gain 25% of anything, but it really can't hurt, and should be some help.
I did well with my 305 heads on my '86 IROC-Z, I could feel much more low-end torque, and it suddenly created a very fun new traction problem.
I'll start posting pics tomorrow.
I already ported the 2.8 heads and bolted them to my 3.4, which is now in the car but hasn't yet started.
I worry that I made one spot in one exhaust port too thin, and I fear it may crack. If so, I want to have this pair ready to swap on.
So far as I can tell, these '93 3.4 heads are identical to my '86 2.8 heads in every way that would affect performance / fitment.
I should do some "before" numbers on a flowbench, but funds are ultra tight these days.
I think it enough to know that doing the 2.8 to 3.4 swap, with a 204/214-112 cam, has been shown to drop the RPM of peak HP down by at least 200 RPM, and that this is gaining nearly 25% more cylinder under each combustion chamber, so 25% more port area is no problem, and 25% more flow is needed.
I doubt I'll gain 25% of anything, but it really can't hurt, and should be some help.
I did well with my 305 heads on my '86 IROC-Z, I could feel much more low-end torque, and it suddenly created a very fun new traction problem.
I'll start posting pics tomorrow.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
Re: porting
Me too. I just got the 3.4 long block. Pretty dirty at the moment. Is the lower intake manifold the same on the 3.1 and 3.4? What about with aluminum heads? Is the lower intake different?
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Re: porting
I found some obvious difference in the LIMs, so I ported and re-used my 2.8 version. Pics of that porting are in my other thread.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,367
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Car: 1973 Datsun 240Z/ 1985 S-15 Jimmy
Engine: Turbo LX9/To be decided
Transmission: 5-speed/T-5
Axle/Gears: R200 3.90/7.5" 3.73
Re: porting
This is wrong, after '85 there are no "H.O." heads, since they are all the same, and would be the same as the earlier H.O. heads. Since there was only one version of the heads the H.O designation was dropped. The S-series most certainly got the same heads after '85, using the larger valves.
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Re: porting
This is wrong, after '85 there are no "H.O." heads, since they are all the same, and would be the same as the earlier H.O. heads. Since there was only one version of the heads the H.O designation was dropped. The S-series most certainly got the same heads after '85, using the larger valves.
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From: Utah
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 15
Car: 1973 Datsun 240Z/ 1985 S-15 Jimmy
Engine: Turbo LX9/To be decided
Transmission: 5-speed/T-5
Axle/Gears: R200 3.90/7.5" 3.73
Re: porting

TBI most certainly got the large valve heads.
Last edited by Six_Shooter; Jul 29, 2011 at 12:34 AM.
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