So far, I've got almost everything but the cam, valvesprings, and pushrods. The heads and valves are coming off my previous motor, as well as the 400 block that I am going to punch 30 over.

Today, I started thinking about some headwork (overtime pay came in smile.gif ). I've never gotten it done... I had a friend who suggested a better valve job, massage the bowls a little, work the short turn radius, and to port match and step the ports .050"... I know what the others are, but what is meant by "stepping" the intake? He said that it would help reduce reversion on camshaft overlap. How much would a decent shop charge for this kind of work?

Thanks!

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The engine combo so far, in pencil:

406 small block chevy
holley 750cfm 4160 VC
performer rpm intake
sportsman II heads, 200cc, iron, 72cc angle plug
howards racing springs 1.250" dia. 135# at seat 335# at 1.250"
2.02/1.60 manley street flo valves
10:1 static compression
Lunati 401A5 cam (275/283, 247/255, .530/.550", 106lsa/100intake)
(seemed a hair bigger than comp's xs274)
floating hyper. flat tops 030 over on 5.7" 4130 i-beam rods
3.75" stroke Scat 9000 crank
1 3/4" long tube headers
HEI distributor, solid copper core wires, accel shorty plugs

if i'm not mistaken,when they port match your intake to your heads(or vice-versa),they leave a little material at the top of the cylinder head intake port where the manifold/head interface is.if you can look down into the plenum and through the intake manifold ports with it bolted to the head you will see a small ridge at the top of the interface.i have read about this and i agree its a good technique.as far as the cost of your headwork i'd guess $350-400.00.i'm no expert but there are several great machinists on this board who may chime in and/or correct my estimate.

Smog; The intake ports would actually be smaller than the ports on the head to create an anti-reversionary effect with a cam having a longer overlap.Not to step on Bowtie's reply,but you would not see a step from the intake,but from the head's runner up to the intake runner.The price seems about right,but I've done countless sets of heads in 4 or 5 hours,and full porting on 215 big block heads in 7-8 hours total.I've seen $500 and up port jobs from professionals that looked like they were done with chisels,but some that looked like art!Good luck. Steve

oops!sorry 'bout the goof,i've gotta quit posting replies late in the evening when i'm tired. graemlins/boring.gif