Champion Ported Irons

[strikeeagle]

Guys,

How bad is the mismatch between the intake ports and an unworked lower intake?

How bad is the mismatch between the exhaust ports and unworked exhaust manifolds?

Has anyone even just bolted the heads on with working the lower intake and exhaust manifolds and if so, what are the results?

Thanks.

 

[Intercooler]

They basically resemble 1200's on the intakes and 1400's on the exhausts. It will not be optimum without doing the intake to match. When you get the heads bolted on the motor set the lower intake on and bolt it down if you have an old gasket and look at the alignment. Use something to feel the head/intake interface and make changes before doing the real install.

 

[matt87]

i have them with a stock intake and headers, cam, 116.9 mph full weight t-top gn with steel gn wheels and 22 psi. i just didnt have the time or mony to port match everything and i'm sure there a few tenths in doing so.

 

[KendallF]

another "guy" response... ;-)

The ports on the stock intake suck. Especially the odd cylinder out on each side. You can port match 'em pretty easily, and it's worth doing. Do I have before and after numbers? Heck no. The stock Champion exhaust port is considerably smaller than a Felpro 1400 gasket; if you align the headers so they're centered, they won't be bad. A minor cleanup there isn't hard either though. Stay conservative or you'll be taking them to someone to weld up the outside of each port to fix your new "air injection". Not that I've ever done that personally...I want that understood.

 

[Ed Valvo]

A local buddy of mine put on Champion Irons without any intake manifold modifications or exhaust manifold/header mods. He was running 12.0's to 12.20's before the champions, he ran 12.20's to 12.40's after. His mph went down too. I suggest if you're going to have the intake manifold off anyway, have that ported as well. You're only as fast as your greatest restriction.

We figured it was due to slowing down port velocity since he didn't match port the intake to the heads.... but hey what do I know. I'm still on stock heads.

 

[matt87]

thats funny...i picked up 5 full mph with no other changes than the ported irons and i evenj ran less boost. i have no intae mods whatsover. sounds like your friend had other problems,heads will not slow you down they just wont reach full potential w/o port matching mods.

 

[Ed Valvo]

I disagree. Ported heads CAN slow you down if they are not done right. Hogging them out to the max is not always the best thing. After comparing Champion Irons from a few years ago to their most recent heads, there are a ton of changes. Even to the naked eye. I guess you got a good set. We needed to have everything port matched before it started to work right. What did you run before and after?

 

[GN-231]

Take a die grinder and port match the intake. It is not hard and doesn't take very long. I just put lined everything up on the head, inspected the mismatch, then I used a piece of paper and pencil to stensil out the geometery of the head ports. Then you can transfer that exact stensil to the intake ports. Very benefical to airflow!!! If you pay all that money for the heads and you have the intake off anyway....spend the extra hour or two and do the job once....do the job right.

 

[Darklord]

After a blown head gasket, I bolted on new champion irons a few months ago. I was in a hurry to get the car back on the street so I did not touch the stock intake. The car immediately felt stronger and more responsive and I had to increase fuel pressure to keep up with the flow of the newer heads. At the track, it ran just as fast with 20 psi as it did before with 23-24. I am not suggesting this is the best way to go since you'll probably see more potential from the heads if they're matched to a ported intake but I doubt it'll be much more than a tenth in most cases. I do intend to eventually port mine so if you have the time and feel confident doing the job I suggest go for it.

 

[matt87]

Ed, my ported irons are recent(installed in 2000 by Jack) the car ran a previous best of 12.2@111 before heads....installed heads(no other changes) and ran 11.9@116.9. the 12.2 run was with 25 psi and the 11.9 run was at around 22-23#'s. i am a firm believer that any gn will pick up with these heads.

 

[turbo buicks]

ya champion heads are nice.

 

[Two Lane]

Originally posted by Ed Valvo


After comparing Champion Irons from a few years ago to their most recent heads,

there are a

ton

of changes.

Even to the naked eye.

Ed,

Could you describe the changes?

For the better?

TIA!!