I was wondering if it is safe to use epoxy in an intake runner to fill some spots. if so what epoxy is best. I will be doing some port work on my vortecs and want to know if i can fill the area where the rocker stud protrudes into the intake runner. there is a cast indent that changes the cross section and the shape of the port in that area.

I have used Devcon with excellent results. Be sure to prep the surface as required, it is not pretty when epoxy gets in to the cylinders, lol. I would first use clay in one port and see if it is of any benefit on a flow bench before going to all that work though.

i myself would not use anyhing in the runners............the work involved plus the, it could fall out case and cause more damage then it worth problem.........the gain if any would be minimal.........i would just move on with the rest of the porting.........

I have to respectfully but completely dissagree with the previous post.
We have used a product called Float Zone used in the Marine industry & Reher Morrison has an excellent two part epoxy as does Manley.
Some of the very best flowing 867's I have seen had about 1/4 inch of epoxy in floor the ports.
Also had a set of 18 deg's that were done by one of the top porters in the country that had a lot of epoxy work done around the guides among other places & have been run in SCCA for over 5 years without problem.
This applies to intake only!!

Mike and Steve,

In your experiences can you use epoxy on heads that will be used regularly, i.e. street use? I have experience with only two sets of heads with epoxy and both sets I was removing the epoxy because it was beginning to remove itself. I have always wanted to try some for myself, but haven't had the opportunity to try any yet.

Now that I have a flowbench to work with my interest has come front and center again. :D

Thanks.

RJ
As I said, I have a customer that has a set of 18deg heads that were done over 5 years ago & the epoxy is not loose at all.
This was the stuff from Reher Morrison. You will have to give them a call for the name but it is good stuff. I think it is the Marine epoxy that can be used underwater but I dn't know this for a fact.
I also have a set of 455 pontiac heads that someone did a ton of work to that had welded ex ports & epoxy work in the intake ports that ended up on a street car & the heads were orginally done in the late 80's or early 90's & have been redone inclucing jet wash etc & it's still there.
The 867's that had abot 1/4" in the bottom of the ports had 2 holes drilled clear through the floor so the epoxy had something to get into.
I did see one set of 867's that the epoxy needed replacement so I think it has more to do with preperation, just like body work regarding how long it lasts than anything else.
I put clay in the port where I think the epoxy will help & if it works I grind the area really rough with a burr & I mean ugly rough before putting in the epoxy.
I do not do a ton of this but have had no problems with it comming out if I followed the instructions & made sure it had something to grip to.
BTW, the customer that owns the Reher Morrison 2 part stuff told me it is over 7 years old & still works. :eek:
I'd say that's pretty good shelf life :D

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EDIT
Also, if there are any pontiac guys out there that are interested in these heads email me, I have the name of the place that did them (it's stamped on the heads) & can give you the info