Grooved Cylinder Heads

[thaywood]

Look at it this way. If these groovy heads actually did all the things this guy is saying they do, why don't all auto manufacturers do it from the factory? Personally, it looks to me like it could cause hot spots, detonation, and possibly expansion cracks in the combustion chambers. And I still say that first picture looks like somebody dropped an axe on that head

 

[Ed Hall]

Look at it this way. If these groovy heads actually did all the things this guy is saying they do, why don't all auto manufacturers do it from the factory? Personally, it looks to me like it could cause hot spots, detonation, and possibly expansion cracks in the combustion chambers. And I still say that first picture looks like somebody dropped an axe on that head

That's a very good question that I may be able to answer. The automobile manufacturers are actually doing something very similar but in a different fashion. If you look at the heads on some newer engines, they are shaped in such a way to introduce swirl into the chamber. Machining grooves into the head is just another way to introduce swirl / turbulence into the combustion chamber for a better / more complete burn. This is one reason why grooved heads work better on some engines than others. I notice that the engine in my 1997 Mark does not put out a lot of low rpm power so maybe this modification would help.

 

[unity]

I suggest you try it Ed. It would be a lot of work. I suggest a dyno read before and after and do not change/clean any components unless you do so and put it back stock to get a stock dyno read. Then take it apart again and get another read.

Also I dont think it will be much of a gain on a 4.6L. the engine is pretty new and its a 4 valve.

 

[LaserSVT]

So...... not only does it give more power but it also gives up to 30% more mileage? Amazing!

But wait, there is more! It makes the engine run smoother AND makes the oil last longer!
Holy crap, I gotta do this mod!

Theres more!?!?? Not only does it heat the motor up faster, so important for winter months, but it also makes the engine run cooler!!!! Holy crap! Where do I send my money to?

There is more!??? But I already want to buy it!

It makes spark plugs last longer and now I dont need to send a vac signal to my fuel pressure regulator? Wow!!! I can also throw more timing at the motor cause it no longer detonates!??


This is the best thing ever! No wonder GM needed a bailout! They wasted all that money on engine development to get better mileage and power while burning cleaner. Wasted all that money on techs and code and new designs and all they needed to do was cut some grooves in the head.
Stupid stupid car manufaturers!

Could have saved us tax payers MILLIONS!!!! Holy crap, that prolly would have halted the recession and gave more people jobs and we could already be colonizing Mars!

 

[SATURN5]

That's a very good question that I may be able to answer. The automobile manufacturers are actually doing something very similar but in a different fashion. If you look at the heads on some newer engines, they are shaped in such a way to introduce swirl into the chamber. Machining grooves into the head is just another way to introduce swirl / turbulence into the combustion chamber for a better / more complete burn. This is one reason why grooved heads work better on some engines than others. I notice that the engine in my 1997 Mark does not put out a lot of low rpm power so maybe this modification would help.

Welcome to 1986.... and Ford only used them that year as they were junk.

No low RPM power? It's called 4.6 liters, ei a small engine..... You want torque? Drop a 460 under the hood.

 

[chris2523]

Welcome to 1986.... and Ford only used them that year as they were junk.

No low RPM power? It's called 4.6 liters, ei a small engine.....

+1
relatively small displacment dohc engine. they do not have torque.
larger displacement pushrod engines do have torque. but don't have the top end power we do.

go buy a truck.

 

[marked8]

So...... not only does it give more power but it also gives up to 30% more mileage? Amazing!

But wait, there is more! It makes the engine run smoother AND makes the oil last longer!
Holy crap, I gotta do this mod!

Theres more!?!?? Not only does it heat the motor up faster, so important for winter months, but it also makes the engine run cooler!!!! Holy crap! Where do I send my money to?

There is more!??? But I already want to buy it!

It makes spark plugs last longer and now I dont need to send a vac signal to my fuel pressure regulator? Wow!!! I can also throw more timing at the motor cause it no longer detonates!??


This is the best thing ever! No wonder GM needed a bailout! They wasted all that money on engine development to get better mileage and power while burning cleaner. Wasted all that money on techs and code and new designs and all they needed to do was cut some grooves in the head.
Stupid stupid car manufaturers!

Could have saved us tax payers MILLIONS!!!! Holy crap, that prolly would have halted the recession and gave more people jobs and we could already be colonizing Mars!

Now that is what I was waiting for:lol::lol::lol:

 

[LaserSVT]

 

[thaywood]

No low RPM power? It's called 4.6 liters, ie a small engine..... You want torque? Drop a 460 under the hood.

Yeppers. It's always fascinated me that a small-ish 281 cubic-inch V-8 can pull this big, heavy car around so well. 280-290 horsepower is quite a bit. But because of the small displacement, square bore design, and free breathing multivalve head design, low RPM power/torque suffers in favor of higher RPM power. But small engine/big car combinations are nothing new. The 1964 Ford Galaxie could be had with a 289 c.i.d. V-8 engine, which is seriously small for that giant car. And if a 460 would fit in a Mark VIII, that would be a frakkin' monster!!! Either way, the 281 DOHC V-8 is the little engine that could! I love these engines!

 

[keatonsdad]

Ed I'm sorry to tell you the only way you will get more low end power out of your mark is if you put it on a trailer and pull it with a TRUCK!

 

[Ed Hall]

No low RPM power? It's called 4.6 liters, ei a small engine..... You want torque? Drop a 460 under the hood.

Or drop in a Cadillac 4.9L under the hood. I used to have one and it had much better low rpm torque and got better gas mileage. It only had 200hp but it felt a lot more powerful. Unfortunately, the weak link in the car was the 4T60E transmission.

 

[JDS353]

say ed did the drag racers or cicrle track racers use this to tow trailers around the track like at rockford's trailer races? if so would you post their reports so as to help changes some views as to the BENEFITS of this super mod.

 

[AndyT]

Or drop in a Cadillac 4.9L under the hood. I used to have one and it had much better low rpm torque and got better gas mileage. It only had 200hp but it felt a lot more powerful. Unfortunately, the weak link in the car was the 4T60E transmission.

HAH! You think the tranny was the weak spot in those Northstar cars? Try the constant head gasket/water pump issues. GM still uses the 4T60E today.... cant be that bad.

Matter of fact, there's a dark green 94 Deville sitting in a bay next to mine at the Chevy dealership I work at.... guess whats it there for. Water pump....

 

[thaywood]

HAH! You think the tranny was the weak spot in those Northstar cars? Try the constant head gasket/water pump issues. GM still uses the 4T60E today.... cant be that bad.

Matter of fact, there's a dark green 94 Deville sitting in a bay next to mine at the Chevy dealership I work at.... guess whats it there for. Water pump....

Yeah. The Northstars were crap. But the 4.9 wasn't a Northstar. It was a pushrod V-8 with aluminum block and cast iron heads. A friend of mine has a '92 (I think) Cadillac Sedan Deville with that engine in it.

 

[AndyT]

Yeah. The Northstars were crap. But the 4.9 wasn't a Northstar. It was a pushrod V-8 with aluminum block and cast iron heads. A friend of mine has a '92 (I think) Cadillac Sedan Deville with that engine in it.

Ahhh. Ya got me. Damn dyslexia. 6, 9, its the same thing isn't it?

 

[94m5]

Not to mention front wheel drive.


Will you people PLEASE stop feeding the trolls?

I can't believe the ideas coming from this guys cerebral matter.

 

[JDS353]

dammit an old guy has to have some clean fun sometime. feed the troll feed the troll beter than the birds.

 

[Ed Hall]

Matter of fact, there's a dark green 94 Deville sitting in a bay next to mine at the Chevy dealership I work at.... guess whats it there for. Water pump....

Yup, I always carried a spare lifetime warranty water pump along in the truck. Luckily, I could change out the water pump in the parking lot and be back on the road in less than an hour.

 

[Ed Hall]

Not to mention front wheel drive.

Yes, front wheel drive was no good for towing hence the switch to a Mark VIII. Now if it had a little more low RPM grunt, it would be that much better.

 

[LaserSVT]

Or drop in a Cadillac 4.9L under the hood. I used to have one and it had much better low rpm torque and got better gas mileage. It only had 200hp but it felt a lot more powerful. Unfortunately, the weak link in the car was the 4T60E transmission.

 

[LaserSVT]

Yup, I always carried a spare lifetime warranty water pump along in the truck. Luckily, I could change out the water pump in the parking lot and be back on the road in less than an hour.

 

[LaserSVT]

Yes, front wheel drive was no good for towing hence the switch to a Mark VIII. Now if it had a little more low RPM grunt, it would be that much better.

 

[94m5]

I can honestly say that you are the only person on this forum that can piss me off with just your thought process.

This thread is REALLY making me think about punching a baby.

 

[SATURN5]

Or drop in a Cadillac 4.9L under the hood. I used to have one and it had much better low rpm torque and got better gas mileage. It only had 200hp but it felt a lot more powerful. Unfortunately, the weak link in the car was the 4T60E transmission.

Betting two things....

One.... Less weight.

Two.... More final gear.

Because it sure as hell didn't have more torque (275lbft) then a Mark VIII 4.6 (285lbft).

 

[AndyT]

Yup, I always carried a spare lifetime warranty water pump along in the truck. Luckily, I could change out the water pump in the parking lot and be back on the road in less than an hour.

Under an hour? WOW! That's impressive. How the hell did you get the water pump out/in? We had to borrow a special tool that attaches to a ratchet, that fits into the grooves around the water pump, so you can screw it out/in (yes, its another retarded GM design, but that's how it works). So I'm wondering, how did you do it if you didn't have this tool? :shifty: