How do I port my head? - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• How do I port my head? by rabbitman on 07 Jun, 2008 11:27
• Ok, I'm gonna have the manifolds off in the near future and figured I should port the head.
  
  First off is porting easy to do without wrecking the head?
  
  Do you just smoothen the opening of the ports and widen 'em a bit?
  
  How deep into the head do you port?
  
  Do you port the manifolds too?
  
  Thanks
• #1 by riddleyo on 07 Jun, 2008 12:34
• Porting is pretty easy if you have patience. It is slow work. I used a marker to color around the ports, then I used a gasket and a needle to trace an outline of the size I want the ports to be. This is called gasket matching. I used a die grinder hooked up to an air compressor with an aluminum cutting bit to cut the outline out. Then I used a dremel with a sanding roll to smooth it out a bit. I didn't polish it or anything. I ported about 2 inches into the port. I also did the same thing to the manifolds (gasket matching).
• #2 by mufflerbearing on 08 Jun, 2008 22:23
• you also need to remove and disassemble the head before you port it, then clean it out thoroughly or have it hot tanked and re-assemble.
  
  -j
• #3 by rabbitman on 09 Jun, 2008 18:30
• Quote

  you also need to remove and disassemble the head before you port it, then clean it out thoroughly or have it hot tanked and re-assemble.
  
  -j

  
  
  Oh, maybe I'll save that for when I need to pull the head. Thanks
• #4 by fastvicar on 10 Jun, 2008 04:43
• Porting with the head on is not wise.  Bits of metal & abrasives falling down into the cylinder is never a good thing.
  
  Besides port matching, isn't there more to do on these heads?  Doesn't the exhaust port respond well to opening up the inner radius?
• #5 by shegel on 10 Jun, 2008 09:59
• i remember a story about a guy with a 1.8t a4 that did a home made port polish on his car. (got the idea from a honda friend)...long story short he removed the air filter and poared sand down his air box. complained later about having to rev the *** out of it to keep it running
• #6 by mufflerbearing on 10 Jun, 2008 10:03
• Quote from: "shegel"

  i remember a story about a guy with a 1.8t a4 that did a home made port polish on his car. (got the idea from a honda friend)...long story short he removed the air filter and poared sand down his air box. complained later about having to rev the *** out of it to keep it running

  
  
  that story is so old...
  
  -j