Polish and port, take 2

[SilverXJ]

Two last images.
Intake before and almost after:



The head ready to be installed:

[SilverXJ]

The new head is installed. Pretty much uneventful with the exception of an hour of panic. I was double checking the preload on the lifters after the first run when I noticed no compression on #3 at TDC. I started to think what now.. burnt valve? holed piston? I hooked an air hose up to the cylinder and it was blowing air though the intake. Loosened the rocker and it sealed up. Checked the preload on that cylinder 3 more times. No luck. Finally realized that the intake lifter wasn't bleeding down. Even when siting on full lift. Tried to run it and it misfired (of course). Screwed around with it some more. No luck. Finally I said screw it and ran it like that at idle with the injector disconnected. After a minute it finally bled down and ran right. I shouldn't have even bothered rechecking the preload again in the first place. I had it all closed up and running fine until I screwed with it. Anyhow.

First impressions. It seems like I lost some torque down low, but I am not really sure. I think it just maybe more linear and spread out now. On the way back to VA I was climbing a hill that it usually down shifts for just to maintain speed. It didn't need to do that. I just gave it little bit more gas and it stayed there. I know it pulls a lot harder up top now. It actually seems like it could use some more RPM too. However, all this was on a quickie tune, so I think there will be an improvement once I have a chance to do a full tune. I know it is still running rich up top too. I originally had a set of NGK BKR6EK plugs installed. The idle was amazing smooth with those, but on a few start ups and they cause an engine misfire. Pulled those out and put the NGK equivalent of the Champion that so many people recommend gapped to .037". No mis fires with them but the idle is slightly rough, nothing to complain about though. Still better than with the previous head.

Almost forgot. A few pics:
The easy way:


Mmm.. orange:


Finished:

[gradon]

Nice and purdy

[brokenujoint]

[quote="SilverXJ"]Two last images.
Intake before and almost after:





there must be some serious differences in design of the gaskets or something. my VR gasket when mated to my Intake manifold didnt have nearly as much manifold showing thru for porting.. it had some, but not like that....

[omegatron]

What intake/exhaust manifold gaskets is everyone using? I'm getting ready to p&p my head.

The gasket I got w/ my ebay header seems to fit kinda sloppy. It appears to be a mls gasket, and won't lay 100% flat on the head...it seems as though there needs to be slightly more ovalization of the stud hols to lay flat. Also, some of the gasket lays over the intake manifold holes, where as most people on this sight, the holes in the gasket are larger than the intake hole....should I ditch this gasket for a better quality?

Is anyone finding they need to trim their gaskets?

[SilverXJ]

I used the gasket that Doug Thorley headers sells. I do recall having to trim the top of the gasket just a bit. One your gasket, is it for a 0331 head? I haven't seen a MLS head gasket except for the 00+ 0331 head. Any pics?

[omegatron]

I have a 0630 head. The header was sold a '91-'99 compatible, so I don't think it is for the later head. I could be incorrect on the MLS part. Here are a few pics.

[SilverXJ]

Thats not MLS, looks like every gasket I have seem for the earlies heads. MLS looks like several layers of sheet steel. It does look like the gasket was damaged some how though. I can't tell how bad it is or if it will be a problem. If you are concerned get a Felpro gasket for it.

[brokenujoint]

I have a 0630 head. The header was sold a '91-'99 compatible, so I don't think it is for the later head. I could be incorrect on the MLS part. Here are a few pics.

that looks more like how much i had to take off on my intake manifold. i have a 7120 head and a victor #HS-5713Z gasket set

[Exos]

How about not using this gasket, and copper RTV instead? I used my gasket as a stencil to port matc the intakes, but I think I'm gonna go with ultra copper to seal it. Is this a good idea?

[SilverXJ]

I use ultra copper on both sides of the gasket. However Hesco recommends using copper RTV on the exhaust and anaerobic sealant on the intake without using a gasket.

[John]

Use the paste rtv copper and no gasket for the intake safely. Running that way about three years on one of my motors. Gasket matching..... most would find it interesting to coat the manifold flange faces with paste prussian blue and carefully set the head and intake together without a gasket. Lightly tighten the fasteners and then disassemble. You will see the matching of the manifold and head intake ports transferred to the head. Now you have a port match pattern. Not a gasket makers pattern to work with.
John

[SilverXJ]

The pictures you see of the intake manifold have the white vinyl on it. I didn't have any thing like prussian blue but I did have a lot of vinyl. Cut it on the head then laid the manifold to the head so the vinyl would stick.