Port molding. 3D model of your porting work

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pittsburghracer

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I'm sure some of you guys have tried this but its something I tried years ago after talking to an engineer Friend of mine. I was working on a set of heads that I knew were capable of more CFM so I asked him if there was a compound I could use to make a mold of a head port. He hooked me up with a company he used in the past for such a project. I tried it and it works like a charm and has paid big horsepower gains plus it made it so nice to see your work in 3D. It also makes it possible to take my work into the house so I can search for issues that I can fix the next day in the shop. I spray the inside of the port and mix up a batch, Of coarse the valve is installed and the head blocked so I can fill it from the intake face. I usually give it at least 36 hours before I remove it. kinda cool looking at your work from every angle.

B1 head mold pictures 002.JPG
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interesting... how hard is it to remove?
 
interesting... how hard is it to remove?

Honestly not to bad but I wouldn’t try it without spraying it with the mold release. You have to slice it in the back of the bowl behind the valve and push and pull it out the intake face. I did work a small screwdriver carefully along the wall to separate it some to ease removal.
 
Honestly not to bad but I wouldn’t try it without spraying it with the mold release. You have to slice it in the back of the bowl behind the valve and push and pull it out the intake face. I did work a small screwdriver carefully along the wall to separate it some to ease removal.

That port looks nice and is pretty much done as far as shaping, right?
I have been watching everything I can find about porting why's and where's, so I'm just going by what I have learned.

Pretty cool that you can see it exposed in 3D.
 
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That port looks nice and is pretty much done as far as shaping, right?
I have been watching everything I can find about porting why's and where's, so I'm just going by what I have learned.

Pretty cool that you can see it exposed in 3D.


That was a Finished B1 port for the heads on my 572 heads up engine. It was flowing over 420 cfm. There was still more left but I wanted to get this engine finished. I wanted to take a mild because I have another set of B1 heads that need ported and this will help me on that set. Then I can go after some more flow on that set.
 
One of my mentors started doing that about 20 years ago. Very helpful to go over details and "see" the big picture, in addition to getting the calculations needed to properly design the port. Awesome work Pitt!
 
One of my mentors started doing that about 20 years ago. Very helpful to go over details and "see" the big picture, in addition to getting the calculations needed to properly design the port. Awesome work Pitt!

Yes, it's a fun way to inspect your work. Pain to get out though... Stuff I used was light blue.
 
Yes, it's a fun way to inspect your work. Pain to get out though... Stuff I used was light blue.


I honestly didn’t think it was that hard. Did you spray the walls down with mold release before pouring it
 
I honestly didn’t think it was that hard. Did you spray the walls down with mold release before pouring it


I have thebrand that you have in the shop now but I haven't used it yet. I had a different brand before and it was a bear to get out.

I'm hoping this new brand comes out better.
 
I honestly didn’t think it was that hard. Did you spray the walls down with mold release before pouring it

I think we just used WD40. The compound we used felt like silicone rubber when it set up. Pretty firm.
 
I don't recall the brand but his was brown like Pitsburgh's. It came out fairly easily too but took some time to set up.
 
I know one thing I over-ordered trying to cheap out on shipping I guess. Its not like you pour a port every month. Heck I couldn't tell you how many small block Mopar Edelbrock heads I've ported and never poured one but I will be hopefully this winter. I had several bottles get hard and I had to throw them out so that plan really worked. LOL
 
I know one thing I over-ordered trying to cheap out on shipping I guess. Its not like you pour a port every month. Heck I couldn't tell you how many small block Mopar Edelbrock heads I've ported and never poured one but I will be hopefully this winter. I had several bottles get hard and I had to throw them out so that plan really worked. LOL

Do you use those to make templates? or to have a solid copy of your work, for future reference?
 
Do you use those to make templates? or to have a solid copy of your work, for future reference?



Really no templates needed as this is really just an aide to help you see areas that you can't really see well from all angles. If needed you can take a quick measurement and set your snap-gauge to that. Head porters are a crazy bunch. I've gone as far as keeping a pen and paper by my nightstand and waking up in the middle of the night and writing something down so I wouldn't forget it in the morning.
 
Really no templates needed as this is really just an aide to help you see areas that you can't really see well from all angles. If needed you can take a quick measurement and set your snap-gauge to that. Head porters are a crazy bunch. I've gone as far as keeping a pen and paper by my nightstand and waking up in the middle of the night and writing something down so I wouldn't forget it in the morning.

LMAO oh, that's funny..
I've resorted to using inside protractors that I scribed marks on every 1/2" along the sides, so that I can duplicate CSA in various regions in the port. 1 for width, and 1 for height.
 
LMAO oh, that's funny..
I've resorted to using inside protractors that I scribed marks on every 1/2" along the sides, so that I can duplicate CSA in various regions in the port. 1 for width, and 1 for height.


Do you know what's CRAZY about the whole porting deal. Some areas don't matter. You could grind and grind away and throw it on the flowbench and the numbers didn't go up, or down. Get the throat at the recommended percentage of the valve (88-91% some guys will push this number) I won't, get the right shape and air speed, and move on. Exhaust side I was taught different.
 
Do you know what's CRAZY about the whole porting deal. Some areas don't matter. You could grind and grind away and throw it on the flowbench and the numbers didn't go up, or down. Get the throat at the recommended percentage of the valve (88-91% some guys will push this number) I won't, get the right shape and air speed, and move on. Exhaust side I was taught different.

Agreed. I find the low lift flow takes too big a hit to over 90%. Of coarse, not such a big deal on race stuff using big cams...
Yep, do you find the turn wall simply don't care on some heads? Unless there's a problem in the CSA..
The exhaust side has been a frustration for me.. Not only do I get tired of chasing my notes around, but it is inevitably limited by your test pipe. Its just not the same as the header. I mean, what does it ACTUALLY flow with the header??
 
Hey, did you get your Bench back together? how does it work ??
 
Hey, did you get your Bench back together? how does it work ??


Not sure if you are talking to me or not but mine was never apart since I built it. I don’t port near as often anymore but I will be doing a few sets over the winter
 
Not sure if you are talking to me or not but mine was never apart since I built it. I don’t port near as often anymore but I will be doing a few sets over the winter

Oh, ok. I misunderstood then, pardon me :)
I perceived your thread last week as an update to your existing Flowbench. My bad.
Ever do any G3 Eagle heads?
 
Oh, ok. I misunderstood then, pardon me :)
I perceived your thread last week as an update to your existing Flowbench. My bad.
Ever do any G3 Eagle heads?


No I just posted that in case guys were interested in buying idling a flowbench. I would love to play with a new gen 3 but at 62 1/2 years old I’m avoiding them. I’ve picked up so many good deals on the older small block stuff that I’m stocked to the gills. I got one more 440 block to sell off as I have a mega block for one build and my Keith Black block
 
No I just posted that in case guys were interested in buying idling a flowbench. I would love to play with a new gen 3 but at 62 1/2 years old I’m avoiding them. I’ve picked up so many good deals on the older small block stuff that I’m stocked to the gills. I got one more 440 block to sell off as I have a mega block for one build and my Keith Black block

!! whats your asking price?
 
!! whats your asking price?


I quit doing outside work. Several years ago I had 6-7 jobs lined up telling local friends to drop heads off in late October early November. Zero upfront money needed or wanted unless they were changing valves or springs. That kept me moving on my end. Nothing and I mean nothing started showing up till January. I race from March into November so my stuff needed work to so I quit taking work. I never charged over 800.00 except for one job and that included porting the heads and two ported and flowed intake manifolds so I wasn’t getting rich on the deal.
 
I quit doing outside work. Several years ago I had 6-7 jobs lined up telling local friends to drop heads off in late October early November. Zero upfront money needed or wanted unless they were changing valves or springs. That kept me moving on my end. Nothing and I mean nothing started showing up till January. I race from March into November so my stuff needed work to so I quit taking work. I never charged over 800.00 except for one job and that included porting the heads and two ported and flowed intake manifolds so I wasn’t getting rich on the deal.

No, you weren't.. (me either) especially when you add up all the R&D to see what the port wants, that you can't charge for..
Is your flowbench for sale ?
 
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