I'm porting and polishing my head right now, Just wondering but what should I do to the combustion chamber. it doesn't look like there's much to port and polish in there, perhaps I'll just polish it and get that carbon gunk off of it with a dremel. Should I just use a wire wheel? what kinda wire wheel SS or brass? I'm worried about stripping the aluminum off.

I'm doing it when the valves and cams are in also so i don't think I'll be able to port the parts behind where the valve heads are. Would it be a good idea to take the valves out and just port it? I think your suppose to have a special tool to take the valves out so I can't do it :(

anyone who's port and polished their head did it make a big difference?

Just be warned removing material within the combustion chamber area of the head will lower the compression ratio, I would clean it up and let it be. For the ports, take your time, be careful and don't grind into the valve stem.

You could probably have a machine shop in the area pull the valves and reinstall once you were done for about $50. Then just make sure you don't grind into the valve seats.



15.9 @ 86.7mph
97 Eclipse RS

Injen CAI, 55mm TB, P&P Intake, Crower Stage 2 Cams, Hooker Header, GS-T Muffler, AFX UDP, Crane Ign Amp, S-AFC

Can we just buy a vavle spring compressor to get them in and out? I know a good way to get them off but not to get them on :wary

You can get the valve springs off by using a socket and a hammer but it will not help you getting them back on. I am porting a head as well. Just take material off slowly.

You need a c-clamp style valve spring compressor with the head off. Something like CompCams's heavy-duty manual compressor($150 at Summit) or thier air operated one($230 at Summit). http://www.compcams.com/catalog/341.html

As far as porting it is concerned, yeah you want to get those valves off so you can port the pockets. There's some good info on the net about porting heads. Here's a couple of links.
http://www.sa-motorsports.com/diyport.htm
http://www.ford-econoline.com/techarticles/porting.html


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

make sure and gasket match the ports.

yeah I bought the SA kit I don't think I'll be taking off the valves :( I'll just make do with what I can reach.

here's what I got so far. I noticed there is a little hump a little bit down the port, I grounded it and tried to make the port as straight as possible. Using a straight edge to see how straight it is.

My my that's very shiny


for fun cuz I knew I have to do it later I lined up the TTI copper gasket to the star manifold and man the TTI gasket is hella smaller compared to the manifold, that can't be good. Haha looks like I have to port the gasket

Watch out for that gasket, a few have nothign but problems with it leaking, I know Jason did.



15.9 @ 86.7mph
97 Eclipse RS

Injen CAI, 55mm TB, P&P Intake, Crower Stage 2 Cams, Hooker Header, GS-T Muffler, AFX UDP, Crane Ign Amp, S-AFC

I found that for putting the valves back in, it's easiest to use a drill press. You can buy a bit for it that is hollowed out and has an opening in the front for getting the valve locks (keepers) in/out. If you cant find one, you can buy a 1/2" hole saw, grind the teeth off and cut a hole in the front of it for putting the valve locks in. I made a jig for the head also when i did it. It's just a wedge to set on the base of the head that holds the head at an angle which sets the valve springs perpendicular to the bit in the press. I know this sounds like a huge pain in the ass, but after you try to use a valve spring compressor on our head, you'll understand why it works so well.:+ If I were you though, I would drop it off at a machine shop and have them take the valves out and put em in if you don't have access to a drill press.

Holy crap thats a great idea! Thanks Matt.


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Jeep TB writeup - http://www.dimensia.com:81/jimbo/JeepTBfor2gnt.html

No prob :thumbsup