Do I need to port my new intake?

[restomod22]

I will probably be adding an Edelbrock Air Gap intake to my setup. Will I need to port it to get maximum performance out of my heads, etc.? I'm learning as I go with this build and based on my limited experience, I can't imagine that the intake will mate perfectly to my heads and give top performance out of the box, considering NOTHING else has been easy and convienient along the way

 

[geordie]

Good question. I've thought the same thing myself. I was kinda thinking that if you buy a new intake and buy gaskets from the same supplier, say Edelbrock, then I would expect them to match, but you never know.

Let's see what the experience of some of the other members is.

 

[ravenblack67]

Always port your exhaust first. Maximum bang for the buck. With a 600CFM carb and a high rise intake, there is not much gain to porting the intake. You should match the gaskets to the head though. Trim gasket material to ensure good flow.

 

[ForceFed70]

I'd only do a gasket match. And I'd only do the gasket match if you plan on also gasket-matching the heads OR the heads have already been gasket matched.

 

[brianj5600]

Edelbrock tech told me it is only worth 3-5hp on top and possibly cost the same down low because of increased reversion. Weather changes can give you that. I would not mess with it.

 

[silverbluebp]

When I built my 289 we flow tested the rpm airgap as well as the tri-ys and did some minor r&d on one port each and increased the flows to the point where they started to drop off. Yea it took some time but the little 289 needs all the help it can get!
It was pretty handy having my friend who does head porting so close. He has a nice flow bench that helped out alot. The heads were heavily ported too.

 

[HuKares]

I agree with just gasket match it.

 

[brianj5600]

Ed Curtis of FTI says "Gaskets are for sealing, not designing a port." As air/fuel flows it slows down and speeds up with changes in port cross section. It takes energy to do this resulting in lost flow.

 

[12sec67]

pm my buddy 10secgoal ... he had to gasket match is AFR's to his Air Gap intake and plane the intake just to make it line up correctly.

 

[rbohm]

it really depends on how far off the the ports are. there should be a minor amount of mismatch to take advantage of the pressure pulses, so becareful if you choose to match the gaskets.

 

[Dr_Pain]

Got an Edelbrock Pro-Flo intake matted to a Stage III, 5 axis CNC ported heads. I used the FelPro 1262 to port and polish and the gains were about 25HP (oops I forgot to mention that I opened up the plenum and shaved down the multipoint injection bung, which protrude in the runner. Since I am dealing with fuel injection at the intake ports everything flows like crazy (do not need to worry about atomization inside the runner) and made the intake as slick as ice. Now that you know what I have done, here are my 2 cents.... Unless you have a big head (cylinder or yours) than there are better places to spend money to gain power. Gasket matching and all that non-sense is not worth the money, in my opinion, unless you plan on opening up the whole runner all the way to the plenum. The facts are you are flowing through the whole thing and the restriction comes from the smallest point in the runner. The step down from the intake to the head does help with the turbulence needed for atomization of your gas (carburated engine) and to create a the pulse draw as mentioned before. So if you are going with stock heads, spend the money on bigger heads . If you are looking for HP and Torque gains........ There is no replacement for displacement

 

[restomod22]

pm my buddy 10secgoal ... he had to gasket match is AFR's to his Air Gap intake and plane the intake just to make it line up correctly.

Ah, yes....I knew there was someone on here with a similar set up that was using an air gap/AFR heads. Thanks, I'll PM him.

 

[10secgoal]

I talked to TEA and they said gasket matching was fine, and long as you don't go more than 3/4 -1in down the throat of the runner. Port matching that intake to the heads is next to inpossible due to the shape of the intake runner. The rpm and 185's are so close in sixe as it is. And to get the intake(square port) to match the heads (oval port) will take some welding. I did have to take .055 of each side. I wish I had taken about .065. My runners were a good 1/4 on an inch off. No joke, it was disgusting. So I gasket matched, run a 750 and have no lack of bottom end what so ever. I tried a 650, too small.

 

[Na306StAnG306]

dustin Whats up where have you been iam guessing you moved Call me i PM'ed you