Porting and Polishing Experience
Rock Crawling
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 417
Likes: 41
Pricey, but header by ed has aluminum flanges, as well as finished flanges ready for tubes, for the 215..
That site implies the 215 has a difference of about an 1/8" in between the center ports from other buick motors, the 215 requiring 6.03" between these ports.
The nailhead flanges are steel and much, much cheaper. Assuming they are slightly off the necessary 6.03", simply cut the flange in half and weld back at correct measurement.
That site implies the 215 has a difference of about an 1/8" in between the center ports from other buick motors, the 215 requiring 6.03" between these ports.
The nailhead flanges are steel and much, much cheaper. Assuming they are slightly off the necessary 6.03", simply cut the flange in half and weld back at correct measurement.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,743
Likes: 985
From: Southwestern Virginia
1/8” isn't much. Should easily be made up. Hell, if you're going full butcher on it, just team out the bolt holes. I do not condone this idea, but it is the kind of thing I would do at the end of the day when I was tired and the beer had run dry.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 417
Likes: 41
Custom header tech:
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/building-custom-headers.961/
Good info and links.
BTW, I found some rectangular flange stubs for $53 (Set of 8). These are 1.75 x 1.25, if I recall correctly. Not sure of our port size. These are 16 gauge, so minimally adequate.
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/building-custom-headers.961/
Good info and links.
BTW, I found some rectangular flange stubs for $53 (Set of 8). These are 1.75 x 1.25, if I recall correctly. Not sure of our port size. These are 16 gauge, so minimally adequate.
So I ported the manifolds with the carbide bit. Worked great. I moved quite a bit of metal in this job. Passenger side required more attention, but both needed it.
they are dipping in rust remover and I will clean them up tomorrow, paint on next dry day.
they are dipping in rust remover and I will clean them up tomorrow, paint on next dry day.
Thought I would report back on performance after the Porting and Polishing job. Drove to MPLS and back from Chicago.
Hard to say how much of the improvement is from the porting and polishing, or from simply having good head gaskets.
The most noticeable difference with the motor is the idle. I was hovering below and above 650 prior to the HG job. It’s now hovering around 670, this is in drive. I don’t really monitor it in park, because I just don’t sit around in P a lot.
Acceleration, throttle response are notably better. Throttle cable is adjusted the same way.
On the highway, there is noticeably better throttle response. It’s pulling better, and does seem to be breathing better. Honestly, it’s no corvette, but passing at speeds 70-80 has improved.
Gas mileage has improved a little or not at all. Difficult to say. On the way up I got .5 MPG better than my previous trip, but on the way back it was windy so who knows, plus I had the car loaded down pretty good both ways.
Verdict is I am very happy I did the work, and did not bugger it. It seeems to, at the very least, have done no harm. Difficult to say if the differences I am feeling are from simply having good head gaskets, or of the porting worked.
Hard to say how much of the improvement is from the porting and polishing, or from simply having good head gaskets.
The most noticeable difference with the motor is the idle. I was hovering below and above 650 prior to the HG job. It’s now hovering around 670, this is in drive. I don’t really monitor it in park, because I just don’t sit around in P a lot.
Acceleration, throttle response are notably better. Throttle cable is adjusted the same way.
On the highway, there is noticeably better throttle response. It’s pulling better, and does seem to be breathing better. Honestly, it’s no corvette, but passing at speeds 70-80 has improved.
Gas mileage has improved a little or not at all. Difficult to say. On the way up I got .5 MPG better than my previous trip, but on the way back it was windy so who knows, plus I had the car loaded down pretty good both ways.
Verdict is I am very happy I did the work, and did not bugger it. It seeems to, at the very least, have done no harm. Difficult to say if the differences I am feeling are from simply having good head gaskets, or of the porting worked.
Last edited by CollieRover; Jun 17, 2018 at 09:04 PM.
