• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Polish trick flow 240 ports?

Steve009

Steve009

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
6:33 PM
Joined
Aug 2, 2016
Messages
929
Reaction score
842
Location
Ottawa
I finally received my TF240 heads after about 5 months of backlog. They are super nice and will be taking them to my machinest/engine builder to run the actual flow numbers and give them a once over. I noticed the ports have a texture to them (not polished smooth) from whatever method they use to make the heads. Should I be polishing inside these ports? I heard a little texture is good to prevent fuel puddling and keep the atomization? Thoughts engine gurus?

DB7D53BE-B27E-409A-B59C-3C7CBF44BB09.jpeg
8BDAA8FC-378B-454A-BAF0-31BFCE34B63F.jpeg
71C5E743-5773-4AAE-83E9-6D0264BAFB6D.jpeg
 
I have TF 240s as well on my 440. The consensus seems to be there's no real advantage to cleaning them up that is worth your time + effort - they really are among the best heads you can buy for Mopar big blocks and they are made to bolt on and go.

I say run 'em as is! That's what I did at least
 
Rough textured ports make MORE power than polished! There are porters working hard at establishing the ideal roughness, and how to achieve it. No state of the art porters are polishing ports anymore.
 
33 IMP said:
Rough textured ports make MORE power than polished! There are porters working hard at establishing the ideal roughness, and how to achieve it. No state of the art porters are polishing ports anymore.
Click to expand...
This is true. Starting in the 70s builders found that air and fuel mixture actually performed better with a little flow "Wiggle" if you would? This led to even lightly grooved cylinder walls? I'm not sure if that went anywhere? Since I haven't seen any design that stayed. But polishing all internal runners never returned.
 
On the intake ports, the "roughness" of the port surface creates a slight turbulence that helps keep the fuel mixture atomized.
 
33 IMP said:
Rough textured ports make MORE power than polished! There are porters working hard at establishing the ideal roughness, and how to achieve it. No state of the art porters are polishing ports anymore.
Click to expand...

Yes this is what i have heard/read as well. Good to hear
 
66Satellite47 said:
On the intake ports, the "roughness" of the port surface creates a slight turbulence that helps keep the fuel mixture atomized.
Click to expand...

Perfect, I was fairly certain I had read that before as well but I wanted to check with you all before I started assembly. Thanks
 
I agree with the above comments for the INTAKE ports - leave them as is so the roughness keeps the fuel atomized.

The exhaust is a different story. There is no fuel atomized in the exhaust, so let that flow as easily and smoothly as possible. Polishing them will help improve flow, although I can't say how much.

Nice heads!
 
hsorman said:
I agree with the above comments for the INTAKE ports - leave them as is so the roughness keeps the fuel atomized.

The exhaust is a different story. There is no fuel atomized in the exhaust, so let that flow as easily and smoothly as possible. Polishing them will help improve flow, although I can't say how much.

Nice heads!
Click to expand...

i agree with you. I would think polished exhaust ports would be beneficial.
 
So if we had not polished the ports in these '906' heads we would have made more than 748 HP?

Well that sucks. I guess we're not "state of the art". I'm so ashamed............

750hp-906 001.JPG
 
Wondered if a combination would work. Inside curve rough and outside curve polished?
 
hsorman said:
I agree with the above comments for the INTAKE ports - leave them as is so the roughness keeps the fuel atomized.

The exhaust is a different story. There is no fuel atomized in the exhaust, so let that flow as easily and smoothly as possible. Polishing them will help improve flow, although I can't say how much.

Nice heads!
Click to expand...


Maybe not. There are some very smart guys with record setting equipment who are putting a burr on the exhaust ports and making more power.
 
IQ52 said:
So if we had not polished the ports in these '906' heads we would have made more than 748 HP?

Well that sucks. I guess we're not "state of the art". I'm so ashamed............

View attachment 1136483
Click to expand...

Possibly, lol! But i remember you said that you did those heads more than a few years ago.
I sure dont see that quality or quantity of work on iron heads anymore.
 
IQ52 said:
So if we had not polished the ports in these '906' heads we would have made more than 748 HP?

Well that sucks. I guess we're not "state of the art". I'm so ashamed............

View attachment 1136483
Click to expand...

I use the very coarse roll on the intakes after the carbide has done its job. The exhausts get the fine roll.
 
IQ52 said:
So if we had not polished the ports in these '906' heads we would have made more than 748 HP?

Well that sucks. I guess we're not "state of the art". I'm so ashamed............

View attachment 1136483
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm missing something here.

First, no one has questioned your engine building capability. I have seen many of your engine builds and I am always impressed. I'm not sure how a polished or unpolished port would prove your engine combo would have made more or less power. Obviously it was a well performing engine.

The question and discussion was about the ideal finish on intake and exhaust ports. My understanding is rough on the intake and polished on the exhaust, and I explained why in my post. If the intakes are not rough, then some fuel might go through the engine as a droplet and not be burned cleanly. Quite frankly, I'm not sure that lowers horsepower or not, maybe it just wastes some fuel. I'm not claiming I know.

Perhaps you could enlighten us as with what to do and why rather than just (what I felt) bashing us. I'd love to learn...
 
hsorman said:
Maybe I'm missing something here.

First, no one has questioned your engine building capability. I have seen many of your engine builds and I am always impressed. I'm not sure how a polished or unpolished port would prove your engine combo would have made more or less power. Obviously it was a well performing engine.

The question and discussion was about the ideal finish on intake and exhaust ports. My understanding is rough on the intake and polished on the exhaust, and I explained why in my post. If the intakes are not rough, then some fuel might go through the engine as a droplet and not be burned cleanly. Quite frankly, I'm not sure that lowers horsepower or not, maybe it just wastes some fuel. I'm not claiming I know.

Perhaps you could enlighten us as with what to do and why rather than just (what I felt) bashing us. I'd love to learn...
Click to expand...
I took that "I'm ashamed " as sarcasm .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SixBarrelBill
Trick flow 240 Heads with Factory Six Barrel Intake
2 3
Replies
48
Views
5K
AA1ChargerRT
AA1ChargerRT
ChargerST
Trick flow 240 heads - prep for 7/16 pushrods?
Replies
4
Views
1K
dvw
dvw
Valhalla083
Can I use Trickflow 240 Heads on a 426SW Bore?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Lefty71
Lefty71
B
  • Locked
SOLD Trick Flow 240 Heads
Replies
1
Views
2K
BryanRad
B
PeteyDaMan
Rusty exhaust valves??
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
dvw
dvw
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top