low speed torque on zilla? from the looks and the slicks hes not worried about it

I'll be gaining through the band somewhat equally with the mods I'm working on. I'd gladly give up some low end to get my breath back at the top end, but I will be fixing that top end drop-out that I had the last couple years. Valve-float was part of that, so fixing that and the extra porting will certainly help alot, as well as other mods.

I'm convinced now as well, that my 3" intake finally became a restriction. Knowing I was going to further open up the flow of the engine this season is why I finally went with the 3.5" FWI.

Valve stem seals in:


Retainers, locks, and 105# springs in:


Time to seal it up and strip the other cylinder head. It should go quicker. At this point, I have all the gaskets/bolts. Well, except for the timing cover gasket and another TB gasket, but they're local. If I were to take a week off work, I'd be able to get all the other work done. It'* a good feeling.

Looking good.

*shudders* I remember using spring compressors just like the one you have there. I had to keep bending it back into place or the spring would suddenly *BOIIING!!*, which caused me some fair amount of pain.

But this was on my '71. May have been a different situation. :P

I have two different types. This one works well with the heads off the car. It would work on the front ok, but tight on the rear. I have another one that works better on the rear head with the STB installed. Much lower profile.

Neither of them have 'holding' problems.

Front cylinder head is done. Ready to be masked and painted. Porting, polishing, thread cleaning, and valve lapping complete. This is either the 2nd or 3rd cylinder head I've done. I lost count.


Roughing in:






Here you can see one of the casting flaws that disrupt flow. This was in only ONE port. There was a 'mirror' of it on the top of the port as well:



Here you can see where the exhaust porting has come up to meet the valve bowl. I work back to the shiny part from inside the valve seats:



How much time off my ET will this much weight reduction net me?


Done, ready for masking and painting:







After I put the new springs, retainers, and valve locks in this head (after painting) it'* on to the new LIM and supercharger. Starting to gain momentum here.

Wow, that looks like it would be some pretty tough hand labour to me. Worth it though in the end.

Did u replace that frost plug in the head? looks like its been drove in with something just recently.

She wont be too long now?

Lookin clean. I'm excited for you to get that beast on the road. That first run is gonna seem insane compared to driving the SLEeper/Honda for this long.

First run actually will be intresting to see. How the PCM reacts that is..its going to have alot of learning to do now...

Good call! I guess I should have taken that into account...quite a different monster after the winter!