Porting cylinder heads to optimize engine performance | Hagerty DIY

Engines need air (and fuel and spark). Moving air efficiently through the combustion chamber has a huge effect on power and porting your heads is one the best ways to accomplish that. Hagerty's Davin Reckow walks you through the ins and outs of how to port your heads at home with some fairly basic tools. Is it a bit scary? Sure. Can you screw up your heads pretty bad? Absolutely. But with Davin's instruction and some time and patience, you can squeeze a few extra HP out of your engine.

Follow us on social media:

Like what you see? Watch our other series including:

Contact us:

#HagertyDIY #HagertyGarage #Hagerty

[Hagerty]

This head ended up on our Tri-power Pontiac Redline Rebuild. Check out the video to see the whole process and hear the engine run!

[FarmAlarm]

I have ported several sets of heads over the years. Definitely is an art that takes patience. And well worth doing.

[MrJacksjb]

Davin would make a good dentist. Just needs a smaller grinder.

[tias]

This man is pure gold. We need people like this to teach us, amazing content! Thank you!

[Hoaxer]

When you said “just use your common sense” I had to chuckle thinking about how a lot of people don’t seem to have any sense, let alone any common sense. I didn’t let it go there, I thought about it a little more and realized that most of the folks that watch this channel actually have a lot of sense when it comes down to it. If anyone doesn’t think so, just read the comments! Thanks Davin for a good video to watch, happy grinding!

[johnlewis]

I really just appreciate you Davin and the team. It keeps me motivated to get back to the shop and do all the little things to be able to enjoy my cars! Keep up the great work

[ElBlingo]

I always put a vacuum cleaner in the other end of the port I’m grinding, helps keep things clean removes any debris. Makes it easier to see what you’ve done, a good head light helps too.

[davidstair]

Keep this guy. He has a great voice, super clear, and engaging.

[jasonepperly]

You are the first person I have watch with a diy. That explains that you can mess them up. And you can get more performance for taking it somewhere. Very nice diy!!

[--OpT.OuT--]

You sir are the one that majorly improved my understanding of head flow and porting. I watched this video years ago but just now found it again. Thank you for all you have taught me with only this one video. Oh and I have no clue why I didn't subscribe years ago.

[ilovehotdogs]

Thanks! This video is amazing... pure information here. No BS/garbage, straight to the point with tips and pointers that only an experienced mechanic would know. Keep up the good work!

[dcrahn]

A good tip when porting heads is to occasionally dip the burr in Johnson's Paste Wax. It helps keep them from clogging up with material especially aluminum.

[samsonian]

Another option along the lines of a Dremel tool: the professional’s version of a Dremel...the Foredom flexshaft grinder. They sell a handpiece with a 1/4” collet, perfect for burrs. Used one many times for ski boot fitting, nice part about them is they come with a foot pedal speed control.

[Rj-tzkb]

Love these longer videos, indepth and well explained!

[NickLoecke]

Great mini-tutorial for folks that have heard talk about porting and polishing the heads but only had a vague idea of what it really meant. Thanks again for the high quality content!

[jasondk]

Finally something not fake!! Thanks for the great video! Sure beats watching the news feeds! I like all your productions their educational and entertaining. Thank you, I recommend them to everyone.

[richardmiller]

I've done this process to several small OPE engines in the past. It makes a world of difference in the aspects of overall performance. Never done this on a automobile but I do have a set of heads I pulled off my Subaru and a block that I want to build up for a spare engine :-)

[stevenbongiorno]

Great video! I’ve ported heads before, but this shows the basics, and you explained it clearly. Kudos!

[tazzygeoff]

I did this then polished the ports as well myself on my Chrysler slant 6 in 1976 as well as the headers.
It took a while but awsome results.
🇭🇲🦘🐨🇭🇲

[liamdtraxxas]

I love porting. You get so much satisfaction from doing it and good free power that makes a difference, porting with a cam is the best. The exhaust side is the best but the longest to do when it's all polished up nice and shiny