Should I Port And Polish?

IH8BOWTIES

Member
Jul 6, 2008
92
1
9
I just got a 96 cobra a couple of weeks ago. Car is a roller but I did get the engine and tranny. Engine is tore down, the teksid block has been bored .20 over and the heads have been worked. I'm going with a complete forged rotating assembly and planning on a Kenne Bell 2.1 with about 7 lbs of boost. I was also planning on some more aggressive cams but I was told the stock cams worked well with FI. What are the pros and cons to port and polished heads with this setup?
 
  • Sponsors (?)


I really didn't think so either but I have some gear head friends that I think are a little old school from carburetor days that talked about fuel puddling. I told them I didn't think that was an issue with fuel injection. I'm definitely going to PnP. I'm just covering my bases. That's good to know about the supercharger. I'll decide that when I get it.
 
Well, if the heads have been "worked" already, what more do you think needs to be done?

A good polish on the exhaust side and the combustion chambers, knock off the rough edges and casting flash and get it back together. Unless you plan on doing it yourself, it isn't worth while.

As for the rest of the set up....personally, I'd just put a good set of pistons in it, have the bottom end balanced and call it a day. Since the '96-'98 KB kits weren't intercooled, you're going to be limited to the amount of air you're going to be able to safely push through the engine anyway (unless you're running a steady diet of C12, or water/meth injection....which is a PITA in its own right), so there's no sense in going overboard on the top end mods, or the bottom end components. With 7psi, you probably won't see much more than about 400whp....which the stock internals should handle just fine.

If you insist on sinking money into the engine, don't limit yourself with the Kenne Bell. Spring a cooled centrifugal or turbo kit that'll take advantage of your mods. Otherwise, that 5.1L stroker assembly, cams and forged bottom end is really all just a waste of money. That small, non intercooled blower will never let you take advantage of their strength, or horsepower making capabilities.

Its your money, but since you're opting for the Kenne Bell kit, I'm thinking you're look for more of a fun daily driver, than a race car. I've been there and done that with the modular scene and if I could do it again, I'd only spend money where its really needed.....on an upgraded fuel system and a good dyno tune....then call it a day.
 
Thanks for the input. It's not a stroker though. It's bored .20 over which which computes to 5.1. I'm thinking this setup should put it the 450 rwhp range. I bought the car with the engine already out and tore apart. The work had already been done so the stock pistons didn't come with it. The crank is already forged so I'll match it with forged pistons and connecting rods for a full forged rotating assembly. Still haven't ruled out the hypereutectic but not really leaning that way unless my budget changes between now and then. Rods will be h beam. Might be overkill but it's all apart and I might as well put the good stuff in there. I'm not looking to build a trailer queen race car. I'm not planning on cams now. Stock cams like FI pretty well. Fuel system will get an upgrade as well. I just want to keep most camaros in the rear view mirror where they belong. Yeah just want something fun to drive.