Category Archives: Cast Heads

Porting Cylinder Heads

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cast heads milwaukeeFor the racer looking to maximize the horsepower potential of an engine, good cylinder head porting work can yield significant increases in power and combustion efficiency and can mean the difference between winning and losing, especially in classes where engines where external modifications are limited.

While porting work can be performed at home by the mechanically inclined enthusiast, it is very easy to make a mistake and ruin a potentially irreplaceable cylinder head either through poor technique, inadequate tools or lack of proper knowledge.

One of the common misconceptions regarding cylinder head porting is that the intake ports and runners are enlarged as much as the cylinder head casting will allow in order for as much air to enter and exit the combustion chamber as possible. While it is true that peak air flow may be higher through larger ports, bigger is not always better; intake flow velocity across the engine’s operating range is just as important as volume. Excessively enlarged ports will cause a drop in port velocity, resulting in poor driveability, undesirable flat spots in the torque curve and poor fuel atomization in the intake port. During a race this can mean the engine dropping out its power band on gear shifts or while exiting corners.

Just as important as port size, port shape is another area where the amateur tuner must be careful when attempting to port cylinder heads. Valve bowls must be carefully blended adjacent to the valve seat, the reduction in diameter of the port from runner to valve throat should be smooth and the short side radius should be a gentle curve; deviation from these principles can reverse any potential power gains. A very important factor to consider when working on engines with multiple cylinders is that the changes made during cylinder head porting must be exactly the same on each port. If one port flows better than another, the engine will not run as smoothly.

The experienced and professional tuner knows when and where to remove material to ensure the best flow through the port for a certain engine in a given application. Such knowledge is gained through extensive flow-bench and dynamometer testing, trial runs and practice, so, while the amateur tuner can learn a lot porting at home, a professional cylinder head porting job will yield best results.

Road to Race – the Value of Porting Cylinder Heads

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cast headsWhat is the point of cylinder head porting? A car that rolls off the production line seldom has the best cylinder heads. After all, most production cars are built quickly, to specs that, while they are sufficient for the casual user, are distinctly suboptimal when compared with a race car.

Race cars, on the other hand, have engines that are modified and designed to be as efficient as possible. But you may not want to put a race car engine in your street car. Enter cylinder head porting. When a company performs this task, they take the existing cylinder head and use an air flow bench to establish the optimum flow. Then they reshape the cylinder port wall to get as close to that perfect air flow as possible. This is work that is often done by hand. So, what does the owner get out of it?

In a word. More horses. Correctly done cylinder head porting can increase horsepower by ten fold, turning your production car into a race car. Of course, badly done porting can be a disaster, as many drivers who attempted to do it themselves have discovered. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that opening a port to maximum and then polishing it to a high shine is what cylinder head porting is. Wrong! A professional will produce a port that has the perfect texture for the engine, for the vehicle, and for the desired result. Other DIYers may try to use a small electric die grinder, then become frustrated when nothing much happens.

Brzezinski Racing Products are professionals at cylinder head porting. They will port cast iron and some aluminum cylinder heads and they also do other engine optimization work. If you are hot rodding a car or preparing for amateur races, you need a professional to do the vital work of cylinder head porting to give you the horsepower you need.

Chevy Vortec Heads

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Cast HeadsDo you like to go fast? Do you want press on the pedal and feel some real power? Chevy Vortec heads can give you more power by taking advantage of and enhancing the vortex inside your engine. If you’re a power enthusiast and familiar with the major components of an engine, you already know what the heads are. You know the fuel comes in and is distributed to the cylinders, but do you know about a vortex and how it can help? Is this a lot of fluff or does it really matter? Here’s why it’s the real deal.

A vortex is defined as swirling or spinning fluid in the form of a spiral. This can often be turbulent as is the case with a tornado-like vortex. What you would want to occur in your engine is the optimum vortex. When done right, you’ll get more horsepower. This can be achieved when you start with Chevy Vortec heads. Some companies are expert at helping you find the exact heads for your engine and even making modifications to them that bring you more power than others get with the same heads. But, be careful.

This isn’t a modification you do without the expertise that is required to match the right part for your engine. You also would not want just anyone to R & R the heads and do the ports and polishes. Getting the right flow and a powerful vortex inside your heads to take you to a new level of power isn’t a job for amateurs. But, with the right heads, the right mods, and the right mechanic, you’ll put the pedal to the metal and you’ll feel the power. Don’t mess around. Get serious about real horsepower by making Chevy Vortec heads work for you. You’ll see more checkered flags and cheering fans than ever before.