What EXACTLY does port/polishing mean? I have the VT stage 2 N/A cam and i dont have the money to buy new heads so can you do a small port/polish job to the stock heads? Some pictures of before and after would maybe help. Has anybody done that to the stock heads?

 

You cant port unless you know how it will effect flow of the head, you can actually make them flow less by taking to much out at certain points. However a good old school method is gasket matching and mild port porting and cleaning.

You take the gasket put it on with bolts going in on the head. Then use a marker and mark the inside of the gasket on the head. pull the gasket off and use a porting kit to open the ports up to where the marker line stops. This is where the gasket is actually at. it wont be very much material and you can do some mild porting right there at the openings. Other then that you cant do much without knowing how it effects head flow. You can gain some small power gasket matching your heads and intake.

Here is an article you can checkout about it:
http://www.circletrack.com/techartic...ing/index.html

Alot of it is kinda hardcore for what you can do at home but they talk about gasket matching etc...

 

Yeah those pages were pretty much over my head...lol. But i think i got the basic idea of what you are saying. What are "PI" heads? Are they actual "performance" heads or just another name for stock heads? Like i saw the "pi" intake manifold and it looks just like the stock one...what does PI mean?

 

Ford scrapped the 5.0 motor in 1996 and went with the 4.6 mod motor. The two motors were rated at about the same hp, but performed very differently. Then, in 1999, Ford changed the heads on the motor to a different, more efficient design which gained 40 hp. These are called "PI" heads and came stock from 1999 - 2004. The term PI means "Power Induced". They are just a better head.

If someone wanted to build a very fast Mustang for the smallest investment, it is wise to look at the 1996 - 1998 GT's. Why? Because you can generally get them for a much lower price then the 1999+ cars. Then, you can do a head and cam swap and not only pickup 40 hp with PI heads, but add about 100 hp with a more agressive swap for about $2300 in parts.

Othrwise, I think you can get PI heads for about $700.

 

if you're down to do the learning, it's not hard to port PI heads. There's a lot of work to do around the short side radius, a bit of bowl work and a LOT of gasket matching. With your cams you'll see maybe 15hp or so gained from a good port job.

You'll need an assortment of carbide cutters, 20-30 hours of time you didn't want to use another way and an air powered die grinder.

 

ok so "stock heads", "PI heads", and "aftermarket heads" are 3 toatlly differant categories? Sorry but im having a hard time grasping the concept here..lol

 

oh ok i got it now!! I always heard of the 96-98 doing the pi swaps but i didnt know they were taking the heads off of 99-04's. Thanks for the help guys...

 

Theres no such thing as "after market" heads for the 4.6 motors. All companies sell are ported and polished PI heads with valves, springs, retainers, etc.

 

oh ok i thought they were completely differant heads, not the upgraded PI heads. lol..NOW i think i got it down. Thanks guys.

 

Remember, only polish the combustion chamber and the exaust port. The smooth surface helps prevent carbon build up but a rough surface needs to be left on the intake to improve flow and to atomize the fuel. To be honest, unless you have done this before, take it to someone else to do it. You can do more harm than good.

 

Unless you know what your doing.. you will do more harm then good. Take them to someone who knows how to port and polish and has a flow bench.
And it would need to be someone who works with PI heads. But by the time you do that you could have bought a set. I have a set i'm selling if you interested.

 

What kind of heads are you selling?