[Nyt_Muves]

So here I sit with 2 sets of PI heads getting ready for the big swap. I have a set of 99 heads and a set of 02 heads. I am strongly considering cams and springs. I have also toyed with the notion of having the heads I use ported or flowed.

Do I want to use the 99 heads or the 02 heads or is there really a difference beyond a different valve cover?

What cams would you recomend and why? What springs would you recomend? Does anyone know of a good kit with everything included to rebuild the whole head?

Is it worth the expense to have them flowed? Does anyone have someone to recomend to have them done?

Thanks in advance.

CC

[markwondi]

What do you mean by "flowing" I think you're using that term wrong.

Anyways, as long as you'll have a mild setup, any big name springs will do (manley, nextek, comp, etc).

There are no kits, and i would leave the assembly to a professional. Bronze guides will be needed, and they are installed based on the valves you plan to run (all valves have slighty different valvestem diameters).

www.boss330racing.com
or
www.foxlakeracing.com

They are the best in the business.

[Nyt_Muves]

Originally Posted by markwondi

What do you mean by "flowing" I think you're using that term wrong.

Anyways, as long as you'll have a mild setup, any big name springs will do (manley, nextek, comp, etc).

There are no kits, and i would leave the assembly to a professional. Bronze guides will be needed, and they are installed based on the valves you plan to run (all valves have slighty different valvestem diameters).

www.boss330racing.com
or
www.foxlakeracing.com

They are the best in the business.

Thanks. I may be using that term incorrectly. I meant where they go in and smooth out all the passages. Porting I guess would be the term. I plan to have them professionally assembled, as I have never had any experience building heads and I want them to turn out correctly.

In terms of the 2002 VS 1999 heads, is there any clear advantage to either?

What cam do you recommend?

[markwondi]

Originally Posted by Nyt_Muves

Thanks. I may be using that term incorrectly. I meant where they go in and smooth out all the passages. Porting I guess would be the term. I plan to have them professionally assembled, as I have never had any experience building heads and I want them to turn out correctly.

In terms of the 2002 VS 1999 heads, is there any clear advantage to either?

What cam do you recommend?

All PI heads perform the same (windsor and romeo). Just use the romeo's (2002's) so you don't have to change your valve covers.

99% of people have the misconception of porting. It's not about smoothing the casting flash in the ports. Porting is an art. It's about changing the actual shape on the ports, to create the smoothest, most direct path of air to the top side of the valves. If you take a dremel to your heads and smooth out the casting flash on your heads, you'll have exactly 0 cfm of airflow. It's all about smooth transition.

You're going to pay around 1500 to have the heads you have now, ported and assembled with all the good parts. It's well worth it if you plan on future mods. If not, on an N/A engine you're only going to see a minimal HP (roughly 10-15rwhp) for that money spent. You just need to be honest with yourself on the future plans of the car.

As far as cams go, i'm partial to Comp. I like the comp 270's for a street driven GT. Those cams MUST be degreed though.

[Nyt_Muves]

Originally Posted by markwondi

All PI heads perform the same (windsor and romeo). Just use the romeo's (2002's) so you don't have to change your valve covers.

99% of people have the misconception of porting. It's not about smoothing the casting flash in the ports. Porting is an art. It's about changing the actual shape on the ports, to create the smoothest, most direct path of air to the top side of the valves. If you take a dremel to your heads and smooth out the casting flash on your heads, you'll have exactly 0 cfm of airflow. It's all about smooth transition.

You're going to pay around 1500 to have the heads you have now, ported and assembled with all the good parts. It's well worth it if you plan on future mods. If not, on an N/A engine you're only going to see a minimal HP (roughly 10-15rwhp) for that money spent. You just need to be honest with yourself on the future plans of the car.

As far as cams go, i'm partial to Comp. I like the comp 270's for a street driven GT. Those cams MUST be degreed though.

My honest plans for this engine boils down to the PI swap. I plan to build another motor on the side over the next one to two years and blow it. I just dont feel that the 98 bottom end would be the best base to start with. I figure I can get a good forged bottom end suitable for forced induction for around $2500. Am I all wet?

Then from what you are saying, I might as well use the 02 heads in present form, as it will cost a LOT to get a little more gain from these heads...

[markwondi]

Originally Posted by Nyt_Muves

My honest plans for this engine boils down to the PI swap. I plan to build another motor on the side over the next one to two years and blow it. I just dont feel that the 98 bottom end would be the best base to start with. I figure I can get a good forged bottom end suitable for forced induction for around $2500. Am I all wet?

Then from what you are saying, I might as well use the 02 heads in present form, as it will cost a LOT to get a little more gain from these heads...

If you plan on forced inductin, then ported PI heads are good to have. I'm just saying don't expect a lot from ported heads in your current form, you will be severly dissapointed.

$2500 forged shortblock can be done, although that's pushing it. You'll be looking at closer to 3000 when it's all said and done.

[Nyt_Muves]

Thanks Mark, now I have a better idea about what to do and in what order. Luckily I have 2 sets of PI heads to play with. Use one now and one later when I go forced induction. No point wasting the money on them now.

[markwondi]

Originally Posted by Nyt_Muves

Thanks Mark, now I have a better idea about what to do and in what order. Luckily I have 2 sets of PI heads to play with. Use one now and one later when I go forced induction. No point wasting the money on them now.

Yep, you can leave one set like it is, and have the otehr set ported. That way you can run your current engine and build the other on a stand without any downtime

[blueoval]

I would go with Vt stage II cams they seem to go in easier. I liked my comp 262 cams had plenty of low end power and still pulled hard up top. I didn't really like my 270 cams lost a lot of power down low, but you are going to do that with any stage II cam. I went with VT stage III blower cams now so I guess I will not have too much low end power, but they should sound real nice.

[markwondi]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I would go with Vt stage II cams they seem to go in easier. I liked my comp 262 cams had plenty of low end power and still pulled hard up top. I didn't really like my 270 cams lost a lot of power down low, but you are going to do that with any stage II cam. I went with VT stage III blower cams now so I guess I will not have too much low end power, but they should sound real nice.

how do VT cams go in "easier"?

Cams are cams, they are all the same thing.

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by markwondi

how do VT cams go in "easier"?

Cams are cams, they are all the same thing.

Well they go in easier because my 270's where way off from bank to bank. I didn't want to grind the key way and didn't want adjustable gears. During all this my engine builder put two sets of VT stage II cams in a car similar to mine with no problems. I ended up getting VT stage III blower cams and one side was perfect the other was only off 2 degrees. And my cams are not the only comps he has had the same problem with.

[markwondi]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Well they go in easier because my 270's where way off from bank to bank. I didn't want to grind the key way and didn't want adjustable gears. During all this my engine builder put two sets of VT stage II cams in a car similar to mine with no problems. I ended up getting VT stage III blower cams and one side was perfect the other was only off 2 degrees. And my cams are not the only comps he has had the same problem with.

Comp used to grind their modular cams with a 5* advance. They don't anymore.

Either way, degree the cams will take care of any problems. Grind the stock keyway is perfectly fine. I buzzed at 7200 rpm like that

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by markwondi

Comp used to grind their modular cams with a 5* advance. They don't anymore.

Either way, degree the cams will take care of any problems. Grind the stock keyway is perfectly fine. I buzzed at 7200 rpm like that

Yes this is true, my builder grinded a little off one side but welded on the other side and grinded it a little to make it back to regular size key. But even if it slips its not enough to make PTV issues. I am a VT guy now, but its good to hear that they stoped grinding them advanced. Looks like I should have my engine in and starting the tuning on it this week. I have waited a long time for this and had a lot of trouble.

[markwondi]

Originally Posted by blueoval

Yes this is true, my builder grinded a little off one side but welded on the other side and grinded it a little to make it back to regular size key. But even if it slips its not enough to make PTV issues. I am a VT guy now, but its good to hear that they stoped grinding them advanced. Looks like I should have my engine in and starting the tuning on it this week. I have waited a long time for this and had a lot of trouble.

Good to hear.