Gasket Matching Iron and Aluminum what cutters / grinders attachments ?

[Robb]

I need to gasket match the 915 iron cylinder heads on the Intake side and I need to gasket match the aluminum 6 pack manifold as well.  (the ports on the 6pak are all over the place)

I paid 250$ for "mild porting" on the heads but it looks to me to have been nothing but bowl blending and half-azzed polishing    was supposed to be a gasket matcthing and bowl blending and polish. If they did do gasket matching then they used an F-ed up gasket off who knows what....


Gasket matching...     gonna do it myself.
I have an air powered die grinder and a big compressor.

what kinds/types  of grind / polish tips do I need to do this job ?     (again both Aluminum and Cast iron)


Thanks !!

[moper]

I like tha basic carbide in an egg shape, and one that is straight barrel with a radius end. Those two for ferrous metals will do both iron and aluminum. For aluminum, they have more aggressive cuttters, but I dont like the speed they remove material at. I like small changes...lol. Dip the burr in ATF or douse it in WD40 every few times you stop cutting with it so the aluminum doesnt gum it all up. Iron it doesnt need the oil. My "basic" porting doesnt polish much of anything. Its a great visual thing, but does little for flow in most engines. Gasket match, blend the match back about 1/2", and smooth the bowl areas out. That's it. So I would caution you..your porter may know where to leave alone and you may not...

[matt63]

Unless he opened the bowls up ala the MP porting templates you won't see much for gains.  Once you use these templates in on hole you get the idea of what they are trying to get you to do.  I used double fluted carbide cutters for cast iron.  I've been told that the single fluted cutters work better for aluminum. I did 'em dry with no problem on the cast iron as it tends to chip away.

[Robb]

The bowls were opened up for the bigger valves  (2.14 and 1.81) and a 3 angle VJ but I think from there just some polishing went on.


Im pretty sure that templates were not used.  Theres a lot of meat left in the pockets compared to pictures that I have seen on this and other boards.    I compared the gasket intake ports on my non- ported 452 heads and doesnt look to be much difference.  Certainly not "square" even.

Ill post some pics tonite of what I got back.   Thank you very much for the info on cutter types.   

[Robb]

Went past the Hardware store and looked for carbide bits.    All I found were some little itty bitty Dremel bits for 12$ each.   Are these the bits I need to get ?    If not,  anybody got a web link to an example (or even brand and sku#)


Thanks again.

[matt63]

These carbide burrs have 1/4" shanks for a die grinder.  You can get them at some tool stores or at machine shop supply stores.

[matt63]

Here is a bad pic

[Robb]

you just saved me some money and a lot of time.   THANK YOU !

[Chryco Psycho]

That is what I use also , double cut for iron & the more agressive single flute for alum   

[Robb]

didnt get anything done over the weekend on the motor, these carbide burs are not easy to find. 

located some this morning at Grainger.   


thanks again.   will get some pics up eventually.

[HP2]

You can get them from Grainger or MCS Direct for decent prices. Google them for web sites. Cutting wax might also be a cheap item to pick up too that will help expedite hte cutting action adn prolong the life of your burr. In a pinch, soap works too.

[Chryco Psycho]

Welding supply companies generally carry them

[Robb]

Got one coming from Grainger, going to pick it in a couple hours.

Kinda funny, I called Grainger this morning,
oh yeah we got 4 of them on hand
I said "sure OK then Ill come at lunch and pick em up" 
Guy says OK.   
I go there at lunch, the place I called is a pick-up only joint it turns out, and they aint got it.   So anyway, he looks it up and orders it, and asks what company Im with. 
"Im not buying if for the company, its just for me" 
Dude says well sorry sir we dont sell to the public. 
"Well sir, Ive bought stuff here before no problem" 
nope we sell to companies only.   
"Im with IxTxL company and I use the employee discount"   
Ah yes, here it is, sure no problem then, you can pick it up at two and you also get a 15% discount.


   they dont sell to the public...   but yet my old company has an "employee discount" program ?


I saw a set of burrs on ebay that if I was willing to wait 9 days for delivery would be nice to have for a great price....   but Im already behind schedule though with the Challenger, gotta get that motor back in by this weekend.  Too much unexpected drama this month.

thanks for the soap tip.  I read candle wax is an alternative too.

again, big thanks to all.

Robb




****UPDATE****



went to Grainger, and they hosed me again.   part wont be there til tomorrow at Lunch time.

[Chryco Psycho]

I use a Makita 906 die grinder to port with , it has served me well , bought it in 86 & have ported a ton of iron in 21 years with it , still going strong , it has had 3 set of brgs ,1 new case & , 2 couplers & 10 switches

[Robb]

Gasket matching went fine.   All I used was the cylinder shaped one with the rounded nose, and it got the job done very well.

I think it took me maybe an hour total ?     That included masking, plugging the chambers and all that.   Really pretty simple and that carbide bit is an animal at grinding metal away.       Wish I would have bought one years ago, for other odds / ends metal grinding/removing tasks.

Thanks again everyone