All the power is in the head. Part 5 - Inlet porting (1)

porting, development, valve and seat work, combustion chambers, cams, head construction, etc
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Guy Croft
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All the power is in the head. Part 5 - Inlet porting (1)

Post by Guy Croft »

Here I want to show a 'step by step' sequence (based on a Fiat Twin-Cam 1592cc cylinder head) to demonstrate how the inlet flow (taking the thing as a whole from manifold entry to combustion chamber) can be increased substantially by careful port, valve and valve seat modification. The technique of test, modify, develop using a flowbench is common to ALL heads, not just Fiat ones! Power and torque will be measurably enhanced if we can improve the flow into the cylinder during the valve event, and although it will not be a direct proportionate increase, we can certainly say that a 'gain' in flow in the head will tend, depending on the rest of the setup, lead to a gain in torque/power. If we do a marvellous cylinder head job but fit a camshaft with a weak lift integral (small lift vs degree characteristic, discussed later in Part 6).

I say 'gain' in inverted commas, because a flowbench gain is not an easy thing to describe. There is no such thing as a gain of '20 cfm' (cu ft per minute mass flow) or 12%, except in terms of the bare port flow with no valve before and after, or as a mean value of flow measured at various valve lift points (see flow graph). Are we talking about increase in (1) peak valve lift flow? (2) Flow with no valve? (3) Flow throughout the whole valve lift regime? Because they are all markedly different and can be achieved in different ways, sometimes one at the expense of another.
The true answer is a mix of (1) and (3). The mass flow with no valve (bare port flow, or bpf) will tell us the ultimate flow that the head could generate if no valve were fitted, but the valve represents an intrusion (blockage) to the airstream, always, and it has to be lifted, with some heads, very high to present no obstacle to flow. With luck - and very careful work - we can get the flow under the influence of valve lift to intersect with bare port flow at maximum cam lift -but not often. Usually, depending on the discharge coefficient of the whole valve seat combination, the valve has to be lifted way beyond any achieveable cam lift to present no intrusion, and this is a fact of life with most production heads.

The 'discharge coefficient' of a valve varies with diameter and shape, and whilst bigger valves will flow more air smaller valves are superior to big ones in terms of the absolute ratio of intrusion against flow; in other words multiple small valves will always give a better flow characteristic at all valve lift points (throughout the cam lift regime) than one big one even of equivalent valve head area.

The circuit race cam chosen by the owner in this case offers 10.4mm actual inlet valve lift so there is no point in modifying the head to produce fantastic flow over this valve lift level, the gains have to be concentrated in the 0-10.4mm lift range, and it is possible to achieve this. It is important to note that whilst the valve is at peak lift once during the cycle, it flows air on both opening and closing flanks of the cam.

Of course power does not just come from airflow improvements, cam choice, exhaust header all play a huge part, and here it is worth stressing that whilst the inlet manifold will generate flow losses due to the 90 degree bend between the port axis and the carburettor axis, this loss will be massively outweighed by the avoidance of mixing of the beneficial pressure waves in the ports on each cycle with split carburettor barrels.
Attachments
One of the first flowtests is to determine what the bare inlet port and manifold flow (separately and together), no valves. The IDF manifold will always give a loss over a sidedraft, because of the bend.
One of the first flowtests is to determine what the bare inlet port and manifold flow (separately and together), no valves. The IDF manifold will always give a loss over a sidedraft, because of the bend.
001 DT 1592 head 1st test with 40IDF manifold.jpg (87.14 KiB) Viewed 44746 times
Closeup of inlet manifold on head, clay on the intake stops sharp-edge entry loss. This manifold easily outflowed the head - by some 20cfm, so I know straightaway the problem here is first the head, not the manifold.
Closeup of inlet manifold on head, clay on the intake stops sharp-edge entry loss. This manifold easily outflowed the head - by some 20cfm, so I know straightaway the problem here is first the head, not the manifold.
002 DT 1592 head with IDF man.jpg (112.79 KiB) Viewed 44751 times
'Used' 1592cc head, early 'tulip 41.5mm inlet & 36mm ex valves. 15mm guide hits flow badly. Later heads rightly had bigger chamber, smaller guides, better flow.
'Used' 1592cc head, early 'tulip 41.5mm inlet & 36mm ex valves. 15mm guide hits flow badly. Later heads rightly had bigger chamber, smaller guides, better flow.
003 DT 1592 head with IDF man cc view.jpg (113.64 KiB) Viewed 44731 times
Unmodified 124 Sport 'waffle' manifold (from criss-cross casting pattern on top) and client's compared in size and flow, big gains from his modest alterations and smoothing.
Unmodified 124 Sport 'waffle' manifold (from criss-cross casting pattern on top) and client's compared in size and flow, big gains from his modest alterations and smoothing.
004 DT 1592 40 IDF manifold compared with OE.jpg (109.91 KiB) Viewed 44731 times
'Downdrafted' port and sidedrafted. TC Fiat is biased toward sidedraft. The relative angle port-throat creates a huge flow loss.
'Downdrafted' port and sidedrafted. TC Fiat is biased toward sidedraft. The relative angle port-throat creates a huge flow loss.
Slide56.JPG (38.06 KiB) Viewed 44704 times
An F1 head has all these things, but with a production head we are fighting to improve most of them, especially the losses from line of sight (very little in some cases) and the poor short-side radius flow regime most heads have.
An F1 head has all these things, but with a production head we are fighting to improve most of them, especially the losses from line of sight (very little in some cases) and the poor short-side radius flow regime most heads have.
Slide55.JPG (48.3 KiB) Viewed 44691 times
The flow exiting the valve is what counts. Even if the port is capable of huge flow - if the valve and seat combo don't flow, final results will be poor, except at very high valve lift.
The flow exiting the valve is what counts. Even if the port is capable of huge flow - if the valve and seat combo don't flow, final results will be poor, except at very high valve lift.
Slide34.JPG (44.63 KiB) Viewed 44678 times
How effective will an alteration be to the short side radius? This 1600 head has big ports, roughly 36-35mm approx, so I'm not going to go much bigger. You need experience to make those judgements.
How effective will an alteration be to the short side radius? This 1600 head has big ports, roughly 36-35mm approx, so I'm not going to go much bigger. You need experience to make those judgements.
005 DT 1592 std ssr.jpg (112.34 KiB) Viewed 44668 times
I tested several valve shapes after each mod. Left - early 'tulip' valve was dropped with the 131/132 series, doesn't flow well. Center, later 41.7mm valve, surprisingly good, right GC radiused one showed up best.
I tested several valve shapes after each mod. Left - early 'tulip' valve was dropped with the 131/132 series, doesn't flow well. Center, later 41.7mm valve, surprisingly good, right GC radiused one showed up best.
006 DT 1592 various valves tested original at left.jpg (113.23 KiB) Viewed 44668 times
Schematic of valve region, identifying some of the features that affect flow during the valve 'event'. The shape of the back of the valve is significant.
Schematic of valve region, identifying some of the features that affect flow during the valve 'event'. The shape of the back of the valve is significant.
Slide63.JPG (29.4 KiB) Viewed 44617 times
At left Cosworth Sierra style valve, great on semi-downdraft like Vauxhall XE, useless here. Angle and radii critical, stem diameter NOT.
At left Cosworth Sierra style valve, great on semi-downdraft like Vauxhall XE, useless here. Angle and radii critical, stem diameter NOT.
Slide64.JPG (34.01 KiB) Viewed 44616 times
If the breakaway/transition point (stable to turbulent) is too far from the ssr it causes disruption to the whole airstream. Especially at higher lift it the air will not flow round the ssr, all we can do is minimise the turbulence.
If the breakaway/transition point (stable to turbulent) is too far from the ssr it causes disruption to the whole airstream. Especially at higher lift it the air will not flow round the ssr, all we can do is minimise the turbulence.
Slide65.JPG (40.77 KiB) Viewed 44620 times
Stable velocity profile in a smooth constant section port, even minor intrusions to the profile cause a local disruption and flow is upset.
Stable velocity profile in a smooth constant section port, even minor intrusions to the profile cause a local disruption and flow is upset.
Slide61.JPG (26.33 KiB) Viewed 44603 times
Airflow only likes straight lines, it drops when there is ANY turn or change of section, a convergence isn't as bad as convergence..
Airflow only likes straight lines, it drops when there is ANY turn or change of section, a convergence isn't as bad as convergence..
Slide66.JPG (31.79 KiB) Viewed 44599 times
After each port/seat mod during 40 tests I used up to 5 different valves to find the best 'new' combination.  Gradually a pattern emerges.
After each port/seat mod during 40 tests I used up to 5 different valves to find the best 'new' combination. Gradually a pattern emerges.
007 DT 1592 head test with valves.jpg (57.53 KiB) Viewed 44593 times
Very carefully, because the metal available wasn't much, I induced a burr-finish radius onto the short side region to see what would happen, gain followed..
Very carefully, because the metal available wasn't much, I induced a burr-finish radius onto the short side region to see what would happen, gain followed..
008 DT 1592 ssr burr finish.jpg (14.29 KiB) Viewed 44592 times
Next job is to find out if cutting the seat out to near true valve dia and my normal 70 deg throat helped the flow regime with valve, it did. I roughed out with Neway.
Next job is to find out if cutting the seat out to near true valve dia and my normal 70 deg throat helped the flow regime with valve, it did. I roughed out with Neway.
009 DT 1592 test seat recut.jpg (23.68 KiB) Viewed 44602 times
Next, the ssr is carefully polished at 80 grit, imperative not to be tempted to just grind away the curvature at left and right of the ssr, their transition points are CRITICAL. That work must be done step by step.
Next, the ssr is carefully polished at 80 grit, imperative not to be tempted to just grind away the curvature at left and right of the ssr, their transition points are CRITICAL. That work must be done step by step.
011 DT 1592 ssr with test seat & radiused.jpg (13.7 KiB) Viewed 44589 times
With the initial test seat done, what happens with the guide retracted? Interesting loss of flow at very low lift but gains everywhere else.
With the initial test seat done, what happens with the guide retracted? Interesting loss of flow at very low lift but gains everywhere else.
012 DT 1592 view inlet port rigged for test with guide retracted.jpg (41.04 KiB) Viewed 44586 times
Flowtest summary at end of (initial) 'phase one' before full porting and detailed seat mods. <br />All I have done really so far is establish some basic trends &amp;amp; potential.
Flowtest summary at end of (initial) 'phase one' before full porting and detailed seat mods.
All I have done really so far is establish some basic trends &amp; potential.
DT 1592 inlet flowtests phase_01.jpg (109.56 KiB) Viewed 44606 times
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