[Jay S]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

Posted here for conversation.....

Out of interest in 1998 Jim Hand did port modification to a Edelbrock 87 casting with the goal being to improve low-and mid-lift flow while maintaining adequate high lift flow.

Reduced port volume from the original 215-216 cc to 196cc
Reduced inlet port height from RAIV configuration to standard D port dimension
Changed inlet valve seat angle to 30 degrees
Reduced maximum bowl/throat size to 1.70" diameter

Measurement and verification was done using a Superflow 110 bench; final tests were performed on a Superflow 600 operated at 28" of water.
A control port was left as-received to use as a standard.

Testing was done throughout the entire lift curve thru 0.600" lift

Edelbrock port:

.100" lift 69 cfm
.200 139
.300 200
.400 245
.500 268
.600 272

Modified port:

.100 87
.200 164
.300 213
.400 250
.500 267
.600 273

If memory serves me right modifications were conducted to one port only and never ment for any production and/or track testing.

( Side note: The above modification was 27 years ago. A lot has changed within our Pontiac community since then.
Larger cubic inches, improvements in intake manifolds, "larger" camshafts becoming more of a norm, as are 500+ horspower combos dedicated to street use, etc, etc.
To many today their opinions have changed revolving the use of cylinder heads. )

.

I think there is no question with the way his car was set up it would have went a little quicker with those port mods he did than a stock E head. The average flow was more after the mods. But he could have went a lot quicker if he would have been willing to change his engine more and put that effort to porting the heads to 320cfm, especially running an AOD. We would be talking about his 10 second car instead of it running in the 11s.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by Jay S

I think there is no question with the way his car was set up it would have went a little quicker with those port mods he did than a stock E head. The average flow was more after the mods. But he could have went a lot quicker if he would have been willing to change his engine more and put that effort to porting the heads to 320cfm, especially running an AOD. We would be talking about his 10 second car instead of it running in the 11s.

He tried a pair of aluminum d-ports and slowed down. He probably could've gotten in the tens if the car weighed less. He had an idea of how he wanted his car to perform and stuck with it. It's easy to fall into the little bit more gear, little bit more RPM, little bit more nitrous trap.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

He tried a pair of aluminum d-ports and slowed down. He probably could've gotten in the tens if the car weighed less. He had an idea of how he wanted his car to perform and stuck with it. It's easy to fall into the little bit more gear, little bit more RPM, little bit more nitrous trap.

He was not a young man by the time he was trying that stuff either. I think if you sent Jim home in his younger days with a 535 AI2 block and some wide ports all I would have ever seen was his tail lights.