View Full Version : New Head
Lbuttsm91
05-01-2018, 03:03 PM
I have a new head coming from allied http://www.alliedmotorparts.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ALL-20265N. I also have stainless steel valves and schnider heavy duty spring set coming from E.M.S . I plan to put them in the new head. Is this possible for my 88 or am I setting myself up for disaster. And if I am what can I do to make that set up work if possible. I'm am not planning on sending the old head in for core I will try to save to old valve train just in case.
geezer101
05-01-2018, 05:59 PM
Swapping springs and valves won't be a problem at all, but a cautionary tale must be told here. You can't go wrong with good quality valves. Don't ever just bolt a new head on out of the box without going over it thoroughly. Check the valve seats - make sure they pass a leakdown test, are all the valve collets and stem seals installed correctly etc. Is the machining solid (valve seats cut properly and matched with the valves). Really give it a good clean (you don't want any milling debris or worse - casting slag suddenly appearing and destroying the engine on first start up). I am apprehensive about using HD valve springs. Can't use them on hydraulic heads (not related to your install) but I tend to think they are rough on a stock valvetrain. The rockers get loaded up on their shafts and it will cause premature uneven wear eventually on both the shafts and inside of the rocker bushing/faces. Also I'd be concerned about the rocker arms showing signs of metal fatigue (we've all seen one or 2 break - it's rare but it does happen). I know the all mech G63B heads aren't super awesome for valvetrain lubrication but not sure what the 4G54 heads are like for getting oil through them.
pennyman1
05-02-2018, 04:59 PM
are the SS valves standard size or 1 mm oversize - if they are oversized the seats need to be matched to the valves.
Lbuttsm91
05-02-2018, 05:00 PM
What else should I consider in getting or upgrading to help the extra wear from the hd springs? This is kinda the point where I get confused about upgrades for the head like what can be used for what head and for what motors. Looks like it will be here tomorrow tho. I'm gonna break it down and check it over. Maybe see about some mild porting. Not sure yet. Wanna see it in front of me so I can get a easier understanding of what the threads are saying about port and polishing. I'm looking for some extra gains but still have decent mpg. Once I get it tho I can upload some pics of you want.
Lbuttsm91
05-02-2018, 05:13 PM
They are the standard size valves. Lord knows I wanted too but, i think the old lady woulda killed me for spending the money for that upgrade lol.
pennyman1
05-02-2018, 06:03 PM
did you get the spring seat washers to go with the springs? they are a must for HD springs.
Lbuttsm91
05-02-2018, 06:39 PM
I did not. I will have to order a set of them as well. The ones on e.m.s. website between the valve retainer and exhaust rocket shaft?
geezer101
05-02-2018, 10:19 PM
Porting and polishing by itself won't make gains in regards to numbers. But it will affect idle and how it responds on throttle by making it more efficient. If you have time and some simple power tools, anyone can improve their cylinder head (uber buck air grinders and carbide tips are optional but not necessary) It's all logic - take out sharp edges, get the walls of the ports smooth and as close to the same form as each other as you can. I went a bit crazy on my G63B head but it wasn't costing me anything (the head was in appalling shape from factory + some bad repairs in the past)
dunno how "heavy duty" schnieder springs r. Although common use with starions, the veterans rate em as 'weak'
...but boost on the back side of the intake valve definitely changes the picture, so may be ok non turbo
performance cam priced reasonable, but finding a good cam that actually increases performance proven to be voodoo
Aftr a couple shitty cams, an Isky cam in my old corolla, performance difference was startling. So they do exist
$390 seems like a fair price for an all new mechanical non jet valve head
geezer101
05-03-2018, 04:13 AM
Hmm, you thought about beehive springs? Not as rough on valvetrain components and can handle an extra 700 rpm over a stock spring. Have a read up on them. They look like they are worthwhile. RPW cams any good? They'd better be good (they are hell pricey but they are a billet cam...)
LSR Mike
05-03-2018, 05:34 AM
Just to show how far off the factory casting can be. Pix are from when i had my head ported...
20344
20345
pennyman1
05-03-2018, 02:43 PM
washers go under the springs in the spring pocket.
geezer101
05-03-2018, 02:49 PM
From what I've been reading (and a few observations from other people who perform headwork) it's not optimal to use a intake gasket as a port matching guide. The trick seems to be matching it to a specific manifold and then cleaning up whatever gasket you're installing as not every intake gasket will be the same. Older heads aren't as accurately prepared as newer ones (same goes with manifolds)
LSR Mike
05-03-2018, 03:25 PM
Ahh, using the Gasket to match both sides is the solution...
20346
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 04:30 PM
2034720348its missing the rocker arm end plu and has was cut at an angle should i send it back
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 04:35 PM
Also i cant turn the cam by hand. Is that normal as well. i thought i remember another person mentioning that when they bought a new head but i cant remember.
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 05:01 PM
Wait a minute...Looking on the site it shows the plug not in on that side. Is that also normal?
geezer101
05-03-2018, 05:44 PM
It would be unlikely you'll generate enough torsional force to turn the cam by hand when the valvetrain is assembled (you're fighting against a bunch of valve springs) And bear in mind that these heads are used on both front and rear wheel drive engines. The FWD engines run a water pump off the end of the cam via a belt and pulley (thus the lack of a plug there) The end of the exhaust side rocker shaft missing a cap is a different story - get in touch with the supplier and show them a pic of it.
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 05:57 PM
Back to the potting part looks like my ports are spread out more than yours Mike but from what I'm gathering it's best to match manifolds and the head to the gasket and possibly if I got bigger than the gasket to match the gasket? Anyone wouldn't happen to have pics like Mike's but with the style of head I have would they? Just to give me a little idea. I have done a little bit of research on the beehive springs as well. I see so many pros from them. What are the cons? Should someone be cautious about shimming a valve spring? They are a smaller spring with less metal and can still handle high rpms, but how durable are they?
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 06:09 PM
The link shows the plug in the exhaust rocket arm not in the arm in that head and any of the heads they have that i can find for g54b motors. Did they mess up the vehicle fitting list? Or do I have to plug that hole and if so where can I get the plug?
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 07:07 PM
Well I should looked before I posted. Feel a little dumb because my head on the truck is open on the end of the exhaust rocker shaft. But that cam hole has a shaft or something in it I'm uploading a pic in a minute
geezer101
05-03-2018, 07:35 PM
LSRMikes' cylinder head is for a paired port G63B sohc engine. What I did to my head was bolt the manifold to the bare head and feel inside the ports where the head mates to the manifold and take out any ledges that you can feel to smooth out the transition between the 2. I sort of cheated by going into the head ports with a flap sander drum on a drill to taper them (an attempt to improve air velocity into the head without killing torque - remember Mike's head is on a big forced induction engine so he can get away with cavernous ports). A bit of a guide to DIY head porting (really needs a bunch more photos and I have put some up but you think I can find them?) -
http://www.mightyram50.net/vbulletin/showthread.php/2566-Intake-manifold-porting-question?highlight=porting
Lbuttsm91
05-03-2018, 08:14 PM
omg.....im sorry about this guys but i just looked at the gasket set and low and behold theres the plug. I was so scared the head wouldnt be the right one that i paniced before i just looked at everything i have. seriously sorry about that. i will read that thread you posted geezer just at glance i can tell what i said was wrong. i was gonna take it apart today but my little my little panic attack stopped me. ill get a better understanding before i attempt porting. btw pennyman i did call e.m.s. and they said that the stock washers should fit. once i get it apart i will see if they will fit .
geezer101
05-03-2018, 11:49 PM
Yeah the rubber on that end seal is a real mess. If anything bigger than replacing a gasket or 2 or a water pump etc seems daunting, don't worry. It takes time to gain confidence with trying more complicated jobs and the internet can be a huge lifeline if you know what to look for. But diving in is usually the best way to get to know your engine. The last thing you or anyone else wants to do is hand over a reasonable chunk of cash only to destroy it from either not realising something is wrong with whatever you've bought before you've even started bolting it up, or inadvertently killing an engine from a bad goof.
You took pics and asked questions - foresight and wisdom on your part :thumbup:
Hmm, you thought about beehive springs? Not as rough on valvetrain components and can handle an extra 700 rpm over a stock spring. Have a read up on them. They look like they are worthwhile.
Yeah, a couple of the fast 2.6 starions run behives, great results. Perf springs, down under also has good stuff
RPW cams any good? They'd better be good (they are hell pricey but they are a billet cam...)
One starquestor posted his drama dealing with RPW, not supplying the profile agreed on. @ $950(WTF?!) I'd b pizd off too
Another us clubmember got a 'street' cam recommended by austrailian 2.6 drag racer, same time he got his MPI magna
His car was an extrordinary performer. 60-1 @ only 13psi ET 12.4sec. Set rev limit 6500. Easily fried the tires first 3 gears
He said the motor was considerably louder after cam swap. Somebody ground that cam RIGHT!
Took his buddy (who owned a 10sec mustang) for a demo ride. When he got on it, car went stupid, pull was insane.
His buddy said his 10sec stang pulled nothing like it. Found out later, wastegate hose poped off, datalog showed 30psi
on pump gas = blown head gasket.
2.6 proven incredible potential. Must dig deep for that special cam (degreed to check specs), since no R&D nowadays
One of the quicker 2.6s runs a new non-jet head, zero porting. Auto trans; 9.5sec ET
pennyman1
05-04-2018, 04:55 PM
to get the most out of the 2.6 you need duration, not lift, as the heads are lift limited due to the design. There are a lot of people who have tried Schneider cams with wildly varying success. Others have used Oregon Cam grinders. The starquest crowd love the Tim C line of cams, but I don't know if they are still made - screaming banshee, Monster banshee, ultimate banshee, etc
Lbuttsm91
05-05-2018, 02:33 PM
What's your alls thoughts on polishing the chambers? Some people say it's worth it some say it's not. The chambers in my new head are machines out and are already smooth I know it's already helping against carbon buildup. So would touching it up with polish be worth the extra few hours?
Lbuttsm91
05-05-2018, 03:27 PM
If I remember right pennyman you mentioned to another fella about the manual section having a mopar performance specs guide. Not sure if that's relevant to camshaft spec or not yet but I'm still gonna download it.
geezer101
05-05-2018, 03:38 PM
My thoughts - on older heads anything that reduces surface area where carbon can anchor to it, definitely (the quality is usually not great - porous castings etc). But there's a bit more to it. You got lots of sharp edges in there around the valve reliefs and the spark plugs and those edges can potentially do the same thing. Just radiusing them off will also aid in reducing turbulence of gas going in and out and can help with fuel ignition propagation (the fuel charge can pass through the spark plug relief instead of sort of bouncing around it). By looking at the chambers you can imagine how the gases swirl into and out of the valves so you want to speed up that process.
Better cylinder charge fill and improved burnt gas scavenging = more efficiency. :woo:
to get the most out of the 2.6 you need duration, not lift, as the heads are lift limited due to the design
as is the case with most any production head
a lot of people who have tried Schneider cams with wildly varying success. Others have used Oregon Cam grinders. The starquest crowd love the Tim C line of cams, but I don't know if they are still made - screaming banshee, Monster banshee, ultimate banshee, etc
Banshee cams popular because they were born in the SQ community..... more miss than hit tho, especially the rollers where u had to source other crap to run em, for little to no gain
One dude had to pester schnieder to grind his cam properly to the specs on the schnieder supplied card. Reward was an amazing 100hp gain!
The red 800+hp 9sec starquest I posted way back, torque curve shaped like no other 2.6 I've seen. No characteristic tq nosedive
So schnieder can provide a proper cam. Most of the faster 2.6s ran em back in the day. Some ran TEP cams also
I believe consistent quality control is lacking, compounded by 9 out of 10 folks do not bother to degree their cam
One 2.6 guru (5spd 10sec street starquest), says he's even seen oem gears incorrectly marked
Correct valvespring pressure is essential, and another topic
geezer101
05-05-2018, 08:05 PM
...I believe consistent quality control is lacking, compounded by 9 out of 10 folks do not bother to degree their cam
One 2.6 guru (5spd 10sec street starquest), says he's even seen oem gears incorrectly marked
This is sort of my point with setting up optimal ignition timing, there's a ton of variables and you can't even be guaranteed you've found TDC from factory.
Lbuttsm91
05-06-2018, 09:05 AM
With a long duration cam would I have to go with dishes pistons and if so how much compression would I lose? Any recommendations for a brand of pistons or where to order them?
pennyman1
05-06-2018, 04:28 PM
It will not change the clearance enough to require dished pistons. A trick that the starquest guys use is to replace the rocker arms with rockers from a 3.0 l v6 Mitsubishi motor - this changes the rocker arm ratio from 1.5 to 1.6, and some of them even has a roller tip as well for less friction. I found new rockers on eBay for about $10.00 each: https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHRYSLER-DODGE-PLYMOUTH-CARAVAN-VOYAGER-DYNASTY-SPIRIT-3-0-ROCKER-ARM-r-1003-1ea/232412395667?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649. Here is the roller tip ones: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Rocker-Arm-ITM-056-6111/161822468296?epid=77066215&hash=item25ad5ee8c8:g:rvsAAOSwVrta1qpu&vxp=mtr
Lbuttsm91
05-06-2018, 07:21 PM
20356203572035820359 This just a few pics of what i got done so far. Im basically rounding down any sharp corners, trying to make the alu around the steel seat meet the runner walls as flush as possible(kinda hard to explain what i mean with that) getting rid of all the rought casting lines and high marks. 80 grit in intake 120 in exhaust tring to focus a some on the short radious spot and tried to keep a spiral effect in the intake as well. went ahead and started polishing the chamber as well. Why not?
geezer101
05-06-2018, 10:10 PM
Nice work :thumbup: Get yer finger in there and probe around for high spots and undulations - you'll feel them before you see them. Not easy working the valve bowls is it? I made a tool to lap the walls in the galleries from a broken screwdriver shaft. I cut off the tip, chipped off the remaining bit of the broken handle and then cut a slot into the cut off end. I wedged some folded up sandpaper in there and locked it up in my power drill chuck. I managed to get a very nice uniformed finish out of it.
Lbuttsm91
05-07-2018, 03:24 PM
Awesome man thanks! Lol na not even remotely easy but it's ok. I'm just hoping all the effort is gonna pay off the way I'm expecting. I think I have an old tire plugging tool somewhere I might try that seems to be the same basic idea
geezer101
05-07-2018, 09:21 PM
Don't expect real gains in torque or HP without other mods to back it up, but it should run nice and smooth on and off idle and have good throttle response (you gotta do your intake manifold yet!) You'll probably go back over it one or maybe 2 more times before you deem it 'finished'. I put about 40 hours into my head and all the mods on my intake (including preparing it for repairs as the coolant plenum rotted out from underneath which was a common thing to happen to G63B manifolds) and even now I could rework a few minor places I'm not 100% happy with. OCD much? :rolleyes:
geezer101
05-07-2018, 09:35 PM
Here is what happens when you are bored, in your garage getting rained in at night and don't know when enough is enough -
20368
finished the ports and started on the combustion chambers at this point
Lbuttsm91
05-08-2018, 04:48 AM
Oh yea I know it's not gonna be crazy if I put it on now. I mean once I can get everything together I'm looking into cam specs now and trying to get some prices may see about sending the new cam out if possible. I did get some high temp jb weld to work on the manifold that's what I'm gonna work on next. One of the things I want a do is see about modifying the mount for the weber. I'm not a fan of the multiple bracket assembly.
Lbuttsm91
05-08-2018, 05:04 AM
And also wow that's what get when you get bored...I'm a lil scared to see what it's like when you planning on putting the time in loljk but seriously tho those are crisp man
geezer101
05-08-2018, 03:14 PM
Thanks. That head was garbage from factory and I had already put money into it for reco and machining, so I tried to make the most out of it. I'm not a fan of the big adapter plate either and a Weber install is in the pipeline for me as well - but I had to go and get some obscure weird Weber didn't I... I've been following up on where this thing is meant have come from and it's either from a Monte Carlo or a Maserati (34/34DATA) The bolt spacings are close to the Mikuni so I ovalled out the mounting holes on the carb (blasphemous to hack a carb like this), installed the Mikuni throttle linkage onto it, added a return spring and mount, and managed to get it converted to an electric choke. The real trick now is getting the correct rebuild kit for it as none of the kits have the matching numbers for it. It actually looks very close to what an OEM installed carb would've looked like (gotta dig up my little pocket digital camera and do updates on what little progress I've made)
p.s. my intake ports don't look like they're halls of mirrors anymore as I've lapped them with my home made drill attachment, but I found polishing them first exposed areas that looked distorted and could do with tidying up. They still look shiny but have lots of nice, uniformed ribs in them.
Lbuttsm91
05-08-2018, 06:49 PM
Holy crap! That's nuts man I wouldn't mind seeing some pics of that whenever you get the posted. I hope you can find that kit tho. I got the manifold alternator and ac and bracket off and dissasembled. Gonna clean and modify the bracket to just go over the front cover and hold the alternator. I'm deleting the ac as the compressor is bad and I wouldn't mind more room in the bay the manifold is gonna take a bath in mineral spirit tonight until I get back from work to clean it up.
Lbuttsm91
05-12-2018, 11:56 AM
Just as a little update I have the manifold cleaned up and got the sharp edges and all the rough casting down. Cut the center out where the carb mount was and cut that steel ring out. I plugged all 4 egr ports even where the carb mounts with jb weld and it's now baking. And gonna start painting the head, valve cover, manifold and probably exhaust shield as I'm finished with the porting. Polished the chambers more as well.
Lbuttsm91
05-12-2018, 12:10 PM
I do have a cam question I think I'm understanding that a performance can would effect low end. I'm wondering if anyone would know roughly how much and would a header like from d.g. or even a longer exhaust compensate for that lost low end. What about the flip side...like a stepped down cam would increase low end but what could one do to compensate?? Oversized valves and beehive springs? I'm just trying to get the whole picture of what changes with different profiles of cams and how to make the best of both changes.
geezer101
05-12-2018, 02:52 PM
There's no free lunches with engine building - everything you do affects the engine characteristics in some way. Depending on the cam and how you've timed it in, it might not have great response below 1500 rpm but will really come to life after that. Headers will help in compensating with low down torque. I've wrapped mine in an attempt to keep engine bay temps down and try to aid cylinder charge efficiency (hot gases move faster - faster exhaust gas exit, less effort to fill the cylinder = improved power) It might change fuel efficiency but allows a slightly more aggressive engine tune, I'll have to wait and see on that one. You're doing all the necessary mods to make the most of the carb, it's gonna be a completely different animal when you fire it up :)
Lbuttsm91
06-03-2018, 04:18 PM
T.E.P. , Scheider, or Oregon that's the question that has me stumped...and is there a difference in cam design for roller and glider type rockers
iirc TimC from starquestclub had contacts that raced NON-turbo 2.6 trucks. Racers r a good source for 'proven' grinds
Schneider came from crower cams. That may have something to do with their inconsistent quality control. Crower sux
Personal experience with Isky cams made a believer out of me
Deltacams.com regrinds dyno'd impressive in DSMs. Crower, Web cams, etc.. for years failed to provide an HKS equal for the DSMs
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