Head Porting basics

You need to machine them to give the proper valve spring installed height that your springs call for. Find that spec from the spring manufacturer and take the heads to your machinist along with the retainers and locks and he should be able to figure it out easily enough. When he does it the guide gets cut down at the same time and you have to run poly lock valve seals. With mine I measured the stock installed height at 1.68" and the springs only called for 1.7" installed height so he didn't have to take much off. Mainly had to take the guide down so the inner spring would clear. If you plan on going with a pretty big cam you may want to look into springs that are for a higher installed height like 1.8". That'll give you room for a pretty big cam.


Thanks for the info, unfortunately I have no idea who makes the springs that are on my heads as I bought them complete, I do know he was going to run a .530 solid cam, there's a chance that my heads have already had some of this done as they have had various machine work done in the past, he just never got them ported as he was going to do the heads and intake at the same time, maybe I still have his number and I can find out more. THIS THREAD HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL THUS FAR!!! THANKS FABO!!!!