Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. #1492377
08/29/13 12:35 PM
08/29/13 12:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
... if paying someone else to do the job might generate better results?

Example: I've done some basic cylinder head porting in the past, as well as paid others to do more extensive work for me. The last set of heads I had done were CNC-ported by a Mopar-specialist shop and those turned out pretty good.

However, I'm thinking seriously about doing another set of the same type of heads myself for the next build, even if they don't flow as well, simply because it's something I find challenging. Also, I have an idea of what I want from the heads that's a little different than what the CNC-ported heads ended up being.


Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492378
08/29/13 12:41 PM
08/29/13 12:41 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
Master
MR_P_BODY  Offline
Master

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
I do it all the time. I love to fabricate and build
things... been doing chassis's, headers and pretty
much everything on my cars for years... I'm just a
cheap bast$#d .. but love building things

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1492379
08/29/13 12:54 PM
08/29/13 12:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,394
Q
Quicktree Offline
I Win
Quicktree  Offline
I Win
Q

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,394
better get a flow bench

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492380
08/29/13 12:54 PM
08/29/13 12:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
Too Many Posts
Challenger 1  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Everyday...

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1492381
08/29/13 12:57 PM
08/29/13 12:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
Quote:

... I'm just a cheap bast$#d



In my case, I've got the equipment (porting tools & flow bench), but doing it myself always stretches out the time to completion a lot.

Dwayne Porter mentioned once that he thinks I like the R&D aspect of this stuff as much or more than the final results. He could be right.

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: Quicktree] #1492382
08/29/13 01:02 PM
08/29/13 01:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
Quote:

better get a flow bench



I've had one since about 2000 and have posted lots of flow test results on here over the years.

What I don't have is a full-time porter's experience in getting the best from a set of heads. It's all R&D for me once the basics are covered.

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492383
08/29/13 01:03 PM
08/29/13 01:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,020
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Offline
I Live Here
gregsdart  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,020
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
I just bought and read David Vizzards book, How to port and flow test cylinder heads. It gets real deep into head porting,building a real cheap flow bench, along with a whole lot more on what makes horsepower. There is info on fuel vaporization, swirl, tumble, and much more. The investment in your case would be a very good match. You might improve on what you have as well! By using foam rubber to cast the porting you have now, and transferring it to a plaster cast, you could mess around with it a lot before getting out the bits to do the actual heads.


8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: gregsdart] #1492384
08/29/13 01:07 PM
08/29/13 01:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
I've got a a whole bunch of Vizard's books, including the latest one you mentioned on porting heads. Yes, his info is helpful and has given me some interesting ideas on more than one occasion.

FWIW, he's got a new Holley tuning book that's supposed to be coming out in October, too. I haven't pre-ordered a copy, but might as well.

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: gregsdart] #1492385
08/29/13 01:13 PM
08/29/13 01:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
Master
MR_P_BODY  Offline
Master

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
Quote:

I just bought and read David Vizzards book, How to port and flow test cylinder heads. It gets real deep into head porting,building a real cheap flow bench, along with a whole lot more on what makes horsepower. There is info on fuel vaporization, swirl, tumble, and much more. The investment in your case would be a very good match. You might improve on what you have as well! By using foam rubber to cast the porting you have now, and transferring it to a plaster cast, you could mess around with it a lot before getting out the bits to do the actual heads.




I use to have a cheapo home made flow bench but I
sold it and am still looking for a newer bench... at
work we used a liquid rubber product to make molds
of the ports so it was easy to measure or do other
things from the plug.. even making a molded port

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492386
08/29/13 01:43 PM
08/29/13 01:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,766
Central Valley, CA.
Quicksilver440 Offline
I Live Here
Quicksilver440  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,766
Central Valley, CA.
Brad...you definitely enjoy the R&D the most....or your challenger wouldn't sit so much.

I'm much the same way....I hardly ever race my car, and I don't really enjoy showing it much (I take it to one car show a year at my church just because my kids love to take it). I just enjoy planning and researching and building things....thats how my LS based EFI project got started.

When I built my Dana 60...I spent more money and time building the tools necessary to do it than it would have cost paying a shop to do it. But I enjoyed doing it and knowing I've built everything on my car (motor/trns/rear, etc).

Only thing I didn't do was the paint, I started to do that too but it was way too monotonous for me....especially knowing I likely wouldn't be happy with the results.

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1492387
08/29/13 01:53 PM
08/29/13 01:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
dartman366 Offline
I Live Here
dartman366  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,247
Mt. Vernon, Ohio
I do as much as I feel I can do effectively, there are some things I have not done,,over the years I have learned how to build my own engines, built torgueflite trannys, rear differentials and frame, body and chassis work, but engine machining I let my machinist take care of that but I always do the assembly, and chassis tuning I usually get some help with that also,,but for the most part I do all that I can do myself,, yes it has a feeling of accomplishment.


Light travels faster than the speed of sound,,,this is why some people seem bright untill you hear them speak.
Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492388
08/29/13 03:39 PM
08/29/13 03:39 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,418
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula Offline
I Live Here
Dragula  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,418
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Just fully ported & polished the Indy intake for our 512 while its apart...Now I remember why I do not do that kinda project too often. Had over 2" deep of chips on my bench and about the same on the floor when I was done.

Yes having it CNC'd would probably be better, but...I had less than a week to do it, and we are cheap too.

I do all my intakes and heads, and yes, having them done on the outside would generate better results, but I like doing it once in a while and my time is free, if I have it.

Been know to paint a car once in a while too...I try and do anything I can. I wish I could do my own transmissions. Its on my list to learn..

Last edited by Dragula; 08/29/13 03:43 PM.

'70 Cuda,...605 EFI Hemi Street Car (6.20 best pass, 1.33 60ft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYw6RA-k5Bk (6.25 at 108.75mph from inside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zQEb9uxFng (6.25 at 108mph from outside car)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCvfzsC4NgM (9.9)

'66 Barracuda AWB Stretched nose Blown 440 Car in build stage

'71 Duster Drag Car 400 Low Deck 512 best 6.002 at 115.44mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znuo3jMUXTk
Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492389
08/29/13 04:10 PM
08/29/13 04:10 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Quote:

Quote:

... I'm just a cheap bast$#d



In my case, I've got the equipment (porting tools & flow bench), but doing it myself always stretches out the time to completion a lot.

Dwayne Porter mentioned once that he thinks I like the R&D aspect of this stuff as much or more than the final results. He could be right.




I may have missed something, but just what R&D have you been doing ?

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: ] #1492390
08/29/13 04:27 PM
08/29/13 04:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

... I'm just a cheap bast$#d



In my case, I've got the equipment (porting tools & flow bench), but doing it myself always stretches out the time to completion a lot.

Dwayne Porter mentioned once that he thinks I like the R&D aspect of this stuff as much or more than the final results. He could be right.




I may have missed something, but just what R&D have you been doing ?



It's usually just been stuff for myself, such as improvements from head porting updates, testing self-ported intakes (dyno and/or on-track comparisons), cam & rocker ratio comparisons, etc.

I've done flow testing of various heads & intakes over the years for some different Moparts members (usually local to me, but not always), too. A lot of that was 'cuz I looked at it as a win/win situation where people got their test results cheap and I got to look over different heads and increase my flow test reference data.

If I'm trying something new or different, it's ALL R&D to me.

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492391
08/29/13 04:50 PM
08/29/13 04:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
B G Racing Offline
master
B G Racing  Offline
master

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,910
Eighty Four, PA
We wouldn't be racers if we bought everything or paid someone else to do everything,we would just be another driver.To be able to challenge yourself with projects is the fun of it all and with every accomplishment comes the pride.Even when project goes bad it isn't a failure it experienced gained.

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: B G Racing] #1492392
08/29/13 06:05 PM
08/29/13 06:05 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
Master
MR_P_BODY  Offline
Master

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
Quote:

We wouldn't be racers if we bought everything or paid someone else to do everything,we would just be another driver.To be able to challenge yourself with projects is the fun of it all and with every accomplishment comes the pride.Even when project goes bad it isn't a failure it experienced gained.




VERY TRUE Bob.... and lately I've been gaining experience.. LOL

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1492393
08/29/13 06:39 PM
08/29/13 06:39 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318
State of confusion
T
Thumperdart Offline
I Live Here
Thumperdart  Offline
I Live Here
T

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318
State of confusion
Quote:

Quote:

We wouldn't be racers if we bought everything or paid someone else to do everything,we would just be another driver.To be able to challenge yourself with projects is the fun of it all and with every accomplishment comes the pride.Even when project goes bad it isn't a failure it experienced gained.




VERY TRUE Bob.... and lately I've been gaining experience.. LOL





Ya, experience AND failure thrown in for good measure........... Spent last winter lightning my car, new wiring and interior only to go a teeny bit faster and hook LESS......

Last edited by Thumperdart; 08/29/13 06:40 PM.

72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....
Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: Challenger 1] #1492394
08/29/13 06:51 PM
08/29/13 06:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506
Az
Crizila Offline
master
Crizila  Offline
master

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,506
Az
Quote:

Everyday...


and twice on the weekends!


Fastest 300
Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: BradH] #1492395
08/29/13 08:44 PM
08/29/13 08:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,969
Chandler, AZ
Duner Offline
top fuel
Duner  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,969
Chandler, AZ
I absolutely love doing as much of it myself as I can. If I don't do that good of a job the first time - I will learn from my mistakes and do a better job the next time. After many many applications of do it wrong and fix it - the results are getting better now. LOL

Re: Ever do something yourself for the satisfaction, even.. [Re: Duner] #1492396
08/29/13 09:01 PM
08/29/13 09:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
72Swinger Offline
master
72Swinger  Offline
master

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
I would'nt have what I have if I paid retail and labor for whats been done to my car. NO WAY! And I think Mopar guys as a whole are head and shoulders above most other brand lovers in "hot rodder 101". The Chevy guys are color by numbers and the Ford guys usually have DEEP pockets.


Mopar to the bone!!!
Page 1 of 2 1 2






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1