Question about porting Headers?

[patdow1]

I just got a new set of BBK unequal shorties and like most of you have experienced they have a lot of sloppy welds and splatter. I took my dremel to the collector side ports and smoothend them out really nice but was a little hesitant to do the flanges where the headers meet the block. My question is has anybody made these welds smooth without weakening the flange welds? I don't have access to a Mig so I can't afford to make a mistake

 

[Michael Yount]

I similarly cleaned up all the welds inside and out, head and collector flanges, on my FRPP shorties. No problems at all. The welds should penetrate all the way through. If you come across voids or porosity in your grinding - you'll just have to make a call based on what you see as to whether it needs to be filled in. I did mine before ceramic coating and they look much better.

 

[patdow1]

On the flange side did you make the welds on the inside of the header smooth as if you were to run your finger through the pipe you would feel no obstructions at all then if you ran into any unfilled areas you would weld it up from the outside of the header

 

[Gearbanger 101]

What size are they? If they're 1 5/8 and you're using them on stock heads, I doubt they would provide much obstruction anyway. Those headers are more than large enough to accommodate the teeny tiny ports on your stock heads. Personally I wouldn't risk weakening the area for such an insignificant difference.

 

[patdow1]

Currently I do have stock heads with those teeny tiny ports . I got the headers in 1 5/8 but I was just looking to make them as flow efficient as possible by deburring and cleaning up the welds and splatter. So in your opinion the welds on the inside of the flange side aren't worth smoothing out on stock heads but when I do get aftermarket heads will those jagged welds hurt performance?

 

[Gearbanger 101]

Maybe a little on the top end, but considering the fact that you're running an automatic transmission, the little extra metal around the inside welds might actually help you retain a little low end torque by providing a little pulse reversion protection. It's really gonna depend on how wild you're going to build your combination. For now I'd leave them the way they are. You could always de-bur them later when you get a set of heads and intake that will support the kind of airflow they’ll provide anyway.

 

[Michael Yount]

I agree -- it's more of an anal-retentive-cosmetic change than anything functional. I confess.

 

[patdow1]

Thanks Guys for the advise