Sad I know, but I've just watched the new Wheeler Dealers on the TR6 where one if the 'jobs' was to convert from leaded to unleaded.

It got me thinking back to when I owned Minis and Classic Saab 900's where skimming and porting the head was a big part if tuning.

I was thinking if thee would be any merit at all to porting, polishing and skimming the head on a 1996 classic?

If not then fine, but it was part if tuning I used to love, proper mechanical work and not a computer in sight!!

 

porting and lightly polishing can increase your engines volumetric efficiency but you only really benefit if the car is mapped tuned for the changes,head skimming is only usually done to make sure your heads are flat for assembly,they dont try to alter the compression ratio very often as theyre ideal unless changing pistons etc.

 

Fair enough, as the car is off the road I was thinking g it may be worth while while I'm looking at an FMIC and an ESL.

 

My engine builder told me ported heads are only beneficial when approaching 500 BHP & using high lift cams.

 

Porting etc will see better results on a N/A engine generally.
Turbo engines being forced induction see lesser gains.