The Cal-look Lounge

Dyno Don has an ad running in the for sale section    http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,12639.0.html and it got me thinking about those day when Twin Port Heads didn't even exist..

When Single Port was the only choice available, what were the mods done to heads etc to drag every last bit of power from them? 

Does anyone out there still know about this type of mod, because I'd really consider doing something based around a Single Port Engine just to to have ago at it?

I don't want ultimate power and tyre shredding performance... Just interested in seeing what can be done (by me)  ;)

I'd welcome any info or pics or tips on this. It's just a bit of fun on my part and using some old parts that would otherwise just stay in the shed?  ::) 

Great thread.  I've got two pair of nice single port heads that have been worked on.  The first pair, which have heavy porting, is on my white ragtop and there's no question it makes a difference, especially since that car is blown and has a lumpy cam (for a small displacement engine).  The second pair I have, I will take some pictures of tonight and post them.  They have been radically reworked and I am planning another blown engine in one of my other cars with this pair.  This second pair of heads were done back in the time period of which you speak, and I can't imagine anyone spending the time and effort to work a single port head that far anymore.  I will also see if I can find any pictures of the other pair that is currently on my white ragtop.

Hi Dave

I'm excited to see exactly what you've got going on.

I'd expect the limits of what's possible have been well and truly examined, but the idea really has caught my imagination and I'm more determined to try it out.

Looking forward to you info.  :)

hello there my single port brothers/ a single port head is like anything else....can be made into something tasty but needs a lot of spicing up first. the most important role to remember in head porting is to know when to stop..!!  I have seen sooooo many heads over the years and many with big numbers and in reality they did not perform up to the challenge. keep the exhaust ports small at the original 1 3/8 "...intakes can be ported quite easily using common sense. port just enought to rough out the casting marks but be careful in the middle runner area not to eleviate too much of the roof area. ive always run stock valve size but one can opt for larger valves as well making this head a mini monster. flycut for compression always helps/i recommend 8...8 1/2 comp but have run 9 to 1 with good results but with a wicked tune up(proper plugs/jets/timing) . a good 3 or 4 angle competition valve job works wonders on ANY head. lightweight retainers and a good set of single springs are also in order.profile the combustion chambers. remember the word "basic"when porting....have a game plan first and plan on spending some TLC and you should be just fine.   my heads for sale are not cheap or for the non understanding sect of our hobby/they have hours of work with all the worksand are a piece of my history..!!!

I think the younger guys should know that almost everyone (with some kind of performance motor) had DP heads in the mid to late 70's (and up) on their motors.  What Dyno did was run single ports and race the yahoo's (like me) that did'nt even consider the option as we were all sucked into the weber thing.   I am not 100% here, but were'nt Kadrons the only real good performance option single port heads had?
You see young fellas...... Ol' Dyno here would roll up to some unsuspecting goober whose Daddy just bought him his first bug.  Lets say he had a 1835 and it had 44's on it and his buddy's told him it was the fastest bug THEY had ever been in.  Dyno would offer a dollar or two for a little drag race, and goober would take a look at Dyno's SINGLE PORT heads with kadrons and almost run to his wallet for that race.  They ALL lost.  Maybe even me if I remember it wrong. ha.  (we kinda had a Kadron motor thing between us).

That Dyno guy is/was kinda sneaky like that.  The legend is he had the fastest single port street car, uh um, Notchback on the streets at that time.  Maybe ever.

Hey Dyno, I remember a place down on Superior Ave. In Costa Mesa that did my single ports for me. I think that I went there cuz you recommended them to me but I'm a little fuzzy on that. Does that ring a bell?

Update on Single Port Porting.....

I've just been offered some 1300 Twin-Plug Cyl Heads?

So there is possibility that these will be the basis of this little project  ;D

Thanks for the tech info Don, I'll be hoping to put a simple but effective motor together, that can have power and be very useable also.

Keep the info coming please, all and anything is of interest.  ;D

In '77 I helped my brother in law build a cal look '67. We did it on a tight budget - I built it using a stock CW crank, 87 mahle slip ons, Kadron carbs with aluminum manifolds, ported single port heads, and an engle 110. Did the trick 4 angle valve job, balanced everything. The car sounded and ran like it had small webers in it. He raced quite a few guys on the street and mostly won. I was impressed with what could be done with single port heads (great gas mileage too). One day at work he heard a VW taking off and remarked it sounded like his car, well we never saw it again.

For fun during the gas shortage in the 70's I took a 40 horse and ported and rechambered it also, put in the slip in oversize mahles, left the single stock carb. Great performance but best of all it got well into the 30's for gas mileage. It was my shop runner.

I'd be really happy to get into the 30's for consumption and just a reasonable performance from the 1300.

I hadn't thought about keeping the original carb? I was panning to use an NOS Holley Bugspray I have in the workshop.

I'm going to have fun with the heads for sure and we'll see what turns out.. :)

not so good gas mileage with a holley bug spray/and you can run a stock carb with an engle 100 with ported heads and will run just fine.    HEY ED...do you remember walt gadzinski from auto haus days?/we were roomates/ friends and he sold me one of the first sets of kadrons after loads of R&D.....oh..and your stolen car>.probably the same jackoff that broke into your shop.   please pass me a real cold one..!!   you were one hell of a machinist back in the day/GREAT CRANKS....!!

wasnt there an article in "how to hotrod vw engines" where a single port head was ported? gene berg was one of the guys doing the work i think

Any idea where that article might be found please?  :)

Wish that I could find my copy of this book.
(http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/books/hotrod.jpg)
If I remember right, there's a part, in there, that covers single port heads. The second version of this book is still available. I saw them for sale at Autobooks in Burbank, CA. The new cover has some chromed out VW engine on it.

I have an old copy back at home somewhere ???

   I'll have  to start digging this weekend ;D

i have one too, but have to dig also

X3

Wish that I could find my copy of this book.
(http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/books/hotrod.jpg)



                                   Found my copy.... In of all places.... The Bookcase??  ;D

                                       Now to stock up on all my Dremel Attchments..  8)

You could even buy the Fischer book very cheap from Amazon with the newer blue cover. That book is a milestone! One of my favourits, can`t count how many times I read some sections of it...Single porting is even included in the blue one.

check:
http://www.amazon.com/How-Hot-Rod-Volkswagen-Engines/dp/0912656034/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1276342991&sr=8-3-fkmr1

Mine is an old copy, so hopefully it has what I'm looking for.

   If not I'll hope to get a scan from somebody kind and have a go at porting myself........ :-\

i did what you guys are talkin about:
(http://www.speedbilder.de/d/23314-2/Resize+of+Bild021.jpg)
(http://www.speedbilder.de/d/24528-2/IMG_5476+_1024x768_.JPG)

and did that with it:
(http://www.speedbilder.de/d/28297-2/DSCF2881+_1024x768_.jpg)

sadly it doesnt go into the 16s but seriosly was fun to build and is still fun to drive.

just stumbled over this thread and thought about u, lorenz.. But you obviously were faster..

I can tell that this engine is really fun..and goes really well..

cheerio low!

I did this one a few years ago. Made approx the same power as a 1600cc.

A little porting around the exhaust guides, on the long side of the intake runner and making the most of the stock size valve by opening up the seats and then blending them into the chamber

(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/motormeister/Dscn1091.jpg)

Don't let anyone tell you a singleport is a waste of time, I like to see others who also put in the effort to build a singleport, they are very underated.  They really shine with a turbo too.  I too would really like to find a copy of the first How to Hotrod book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV12RL3P8Bw

Kevin

here are my SP 100 single ports machined for 88mm slight porting and valve job, hemi cut.

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m208/benito26/DSC01252.jpg)

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m208/benito26/DSC01253.jpg)

(http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m208/benito26/DSC01251.jpg)

What do you do about the intake gasket?

I used none on mine, just high temp silicone.  Make sure the sealing surface is flat.  So far after 3 years, and 19 psi boost  it still is holding on my 2110 singleport.  Here is my first set of singleports using JB weld from 5 years ago to fill in where I needed more area.  These heads used  35 x 32 valves.

Kevin

(http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/214082.jpg)

bringing a dormant thread back up..

amidst the everlong parts completing project for my 88x74 build..

i figure i have an excuse..  my 1600sp is misfiring..  hint of barrel leaking or valves leaking

an excuse for this..

go easy on me.. im far from a seasoned vw head porter (i port hondas LOL)

- the dirtiest workbench, an SP head, 2 honda heads in the background and my bug (partially lol)
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture031.jpg)

(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture019.jpg)
sp port entry to chamber 2 (or intake valve number 2 lol)

(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture021.jpg)

sp port entry to chamber 1

(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture022.jpg)
chamber 1 view to intake port

(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture023.jpg)
chamber 2 view to intae port


(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture024.jpg)a nicer/closer view of chamber 1 to intake port

pardon me.. the head is dirty

(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/Picture026.jpg)
exhaust port,  i was under the assumption that SP heads need more help in the intake side.. so all was done here is fluffin and buffin



im eager to learn,   let me know  if i did wrong , or sumthin

ok , reviving yet  super dormant thread

(yep saw the red letter warning on posting LOL)

just want to share,  the pics i showed, recieved a multi angle valvejob with a radius top cut (i use this for honda's  i was asuming both value in airspeed  over flow, so it might work? )

the 1679cc  runs awesome been running since March sorry i didnt get to update sooner, next engine project may be delayed as im still enjoying this jalopy

it currently uses a 30pic ,  1 3/8 merge header , jetted with 137mains LOL 
8.4:1 static comp , stock case (un opend, just installed new machine in barrels and the sp heads)
009 distributor, no pinging running 95RON

nearly done with the sp manifolds for my kads and im stoked  to try em' 

it runs circles around my dads 1600dp stocker  hahaha  (maybe im hallucinating)

anyways  sorry for bringing this back up, will try to get current updates  and pics 

Ralf,
You will really dig it with the Kadrons!
Back when, I ran a 1600 with Kadrons, stock cam with 1.25 rockers, 1 3/8 exhaust & dual QPs, 009 with electronic ignition ... ran great!
In town 27 mpg & 36 on the highway!
Should have NEVER SOLD IT :'(

Oh well, had to go Stroker! LOL
Take care & Good luck!
TxT

funny u mention that.. as it is.. its beating my racer honda.. that does 15.5km to a liter

:)   cant imagine it improving a bit and with more oomph!!!



stroker? i guess they go big in texas...  gotta represent? hahaha



thanks tom


ralf'

You guys have me all excited to get going on my single port. I am actually waiting on the heads from Jeff Denham right now, so I can't go any farther at this point. I'm in the process of rebuilding my Kadrons right now and getting ready to send my parts for balancing though. I really like the other single port's I've driven, so this one should be fun.  They can certainly pack a punch that you don't expect!

Andy

where did "billy" go....AWESOME single port turbo project that KICKS ASS..!!  >> Andy...e mail me regarding your present situation (in complete)and i will see what I can do to help in regards to securing your heads being finished.  Anyone been pricing the cost of done H.P.single ports as of late??....looking for a set cut for 90.5 and ready to go..??... If interested  e mail me as my trick freshened up "old school" single ports are sitting and waiting for a new home... starting a new project with more "mo jo".  peace /Dyno   ps, if interested pull up my old ad in the for sale section and check'm out.... Thanks

Interesting thread !
I thought I was the only one "Hot Rodding" single port heads.
My heads are for my Empi GTV.
They have 39mm X 35.5mm EMPI stamped valves and are bored for 88mm Empi Slipper Skirt p&c's.
Along with vintage Empi dual springs, spacers and spring retainers.
The porting was done by Fumio Fukaya.
They were also port matched to the Shorrock supercharger manifold endcastings by Fumio.
:-)

That sounds like it will be a fun little motor.

I think I still have a set of ported single ports that (I think) were done by the same guy that did the ones on Dyno's Notch racer.

Dyno: I can't remember the name of the guy.. he had a shop down on Superior in Costa Mesa.

xlnt Richard...back in the day I use to oggle a nice set of s/P's...and still do to this day. Good luck on your project.    D.D.  ps,recheck those retainers and be sure they are NOT aluminum....single hd sping ok/  dual spring..??  seen MANY destroy a good engine from pulling through due to stress with dual springs and or too much lift requirement//FYI...

 Hi Rick,  mmmm...superior,costa mesa.?..crawford engineering comes to mind...BUT...>>Randy Jones/in fullerton was the only person besides myself that did any headwork on my  1600 sp heads.         fyi...In the above mentioned and pictured is a cool "D "port design for those that want to increase the flow from the roof of the intake.  Remember some things look cool but still take time and money especially when you are welding,grinding,matching,profiling,etc....   my fond memories...>> 1) out of many was when I raced a friend(Don Buckey from DVB) behind the world famous Nabisco factory in buena park in the mid 70's with my ruby red 67 sedan....he had been hearing about my credentials with my single port 1600 kadron equipped engine (stock cranked/120cam/stock valved(p&p) single ports /kadrons/1 3/8 exhaust)... so he put together a 1776 with a vz25 and 44 webers with 40x35 ported dual ports and1 1/2 exhaust and brought it out just for me. Well needless to say after my 60ft radial tire smokers he was lit to be fit so we raced each other and I blew his doors off by a couple of car lengths...it was BITCHIN' to see the look on his face as well as the scores of bedazzled onlookers...

any new things with the singleport runners here?  ;D

Wow, I am sorry I didn't see your message earlier Dyno. I'll send you an email (unless your coupon expired?  ;D).

I have been putting my "backup" 1600cc (now 1679) engine together but am lacking the motivation to finish it. It needs another 6 or 8 hours and it's ready to fire...can someone please put their foot through the back of their modem and send me a swift kick in the ass to finish this? ::)

(http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv348/youngnstudly/IMG_7015.jpg)

-Andy

Don, weren't you dubbed the Single-Port Kadron King for a while there? You were an inspiration to all us bucks-down gremmies.


Lonnie Reed at The Head Shop? I seem to recall that his shop was on Superior.

If we're going to get nostalgic, I miss Costa Mesa. Don't miss all the people who live there because they can't afford Newport Beach, tho. Because of them all the good stuff--Mesa Theater, Stag Bar, The Helm, that Italian joint on Harbor/19th, Kymco Motorsports (when it was Kymla's) Cuckoo's Nest, and Sid's (even though it was technically Newport)--got redeveloped.

[/weepy nostalgia]

Back on topic. In the '80s I had a friend who had an 1835 that his dad built for a buggy the family had in the '70s. It had an unknown cam, high compression, a Zenith, and worked-over single-port heads. They put it in my pal's Bug and when that car was on, man it was on. On a quarter-mile track it would've been worthless but between stoplights it would put a hurt on just about anything that crossed its path.

The key, as always, is the combination. And lots of compression doesn't hurt, either.  ;)

youngstudly -

to keep u going... or a swift modern kick LOL


the pictures i posted above.. of the sp portwork i did.. as i mentioned is on my 1679cc daily.. and been running good
8.5 simthing compression stock cam etc stock valve..  with 30pic  jetted with 140mains now  bfor it was 137s


my dad borrowed it yesterday for the whole day.. driving to hardware stores and paintstores as we finish the new house..
and he was cruising and lugging it with the airconditioner on LOL

because im stoked with how it runs for a comuter,  

the next few pics will be a new rendition of the daily sp motor
but will be 85.5x74  to make 1699cc and a split lift split dur. cam :)

in its crude state
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/spproject026.jpg)

i made a rough pass with the carbide bit, then for better visuals, passed a bit of 60grit rolls

the entry
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/iphone3.jpg)

then the next stuff..

after making a few more passes on the 60grit roll

valve entry to the right
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/updatesp3.jpg)

valve entry to the left
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/updatesp5.jpg)

chamber view from the right side valve
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/updatesp7.jpg)

chamber view from the left side of valve
(http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp290/twinsohc/VW/updatesp8.jpg)

pardon the lighting.. im just using my phone :)


if u need more swift kick to get u goin.. i can post some exhaust ports

LOL

go finish yours man!!!

Don't think it was Lonnie either. When I was into it, Lonnie's shop was on Chestnut in Santa Ana.

Those heads look sweet! I am working on my engine today. I am not very happy with the heads on my engine after getting really screwed by a local machinist that did a very poor job and charged all the money! I picked the heads up and the local shop had 2 different deck heights on my heads (one head is flycut.010" and the other .060"), he charged me for a complete valve job and admitted he didn't grind the valve faces or stems at all, he cracked a guide boss installing one of the guides, and then charged me $30 more to assemble the heads after we agreed that I didn't want them assembled since I was going to unshroud the valves. I think he wanted to hide the cracked guide boss behind the valve spring so he assembled them and didn't mention the cracked guide boss. The worst part was the bill was $50 more ($275 total and I supplied the valves, springs, all the hardware, and both heads were already disassembled and bead blasted by me), then he took a week longer than promised to finish them.  He BS'd his way around all of my complaints so I just left and I'm never going back!  >:(

I sent Jeff Denham a friendly message to see how the 1915 heads are coming...I wish the local VW machine shop did work that was half as good as  Jeff Denham's work, but sadly the local guy is just another hack.  I had to do a little unshrouding of the valves on the stock heads for my current 1679 build and I took more material out of one head to even up the chamber sizes (3cc difference between the 2 heads!) but I didn't go nearly as far as you did with your heads...I don't really know what I'm doing so I left them alone as much as I could. I only gave myself a budget of $1000 on this engine (since I already have $2800 into the 1915cc single port so far), but I wanted to do some minor upgrades on my stock 1600 back up engine and have a valve job done since the engine has 42,000 miles on it. I added the 88mm P/C set that has the base turned down to fit a stock case (but you still machine the heads for 90.5 bore), the deck is set to .053", the chambers are set to 53cc (within a half of a cc on all chambers), the heads have Bugpack 35x32mm stainless valves with chromoly retainers, HD Bugpack springs, very light portwork by me, and 8mm intake studs for the Kadron manifolds. I also added full flow with Berg stainless oil lines, a (real) 912 Porsche breather box, Kadrons that I rebuilt with TB's rebuilt by The Kaddie Shack, Berg welded DH fan, Late model FI fanshroud that I changed the left heater outlet on, Doghouse conversion, working thermostat, 1.25 rockers with solid shafts and swivel feet adjusters, and Manton chromoly pushrods. Exhaust is a simple single quiet pack (but I haven't decided which one I want to use yet...I have 2 mufflers to chose from). I'll post specs of it with some more detailed photos later.

Andy 

Been gone for a long time.

I have sold the 2110 singleport engine last year and the new owner can get the 10 second 1/4 mile  timeslip with it that I just missed out on.   My singleport heads were ported at Brothers Machine, these were the first singleports Renato had ever welded and ported, and he was great with what I wanted.  The cross section of the port was 40 x 38 and used 40 x 40 valves.  The engine in an 1850 pound car ran 120 mph in the 1/4 with 18psi boost.   Singleport heads are old technology forsure, but they can still make good power if the same tricks are applied to them as a dual port.  You can watch some of my youtube vidoes of the 2110  singleport racing on my channel  http://www.youtube.com/user/Billyisgr8