Head upgrades?

[gsxlover97]

So my 97gsx just jumped time and now it's time for a head rebuild. My question being what are some good recommended upgrades for my head? I know I want to go with better Springs and valves. Is the 3g lifter swap good. I I herd something about swapping something from a Hyundai in? Any pointers. Looking to start buying parts now as it is my baby and spring time so I want it back o the the road. thanks guys

 

[ThunderChild]

if youre planning on doing more upgrades overall, springs and retainers are a good idea, dependent on cams and other mods you will be running. 3g lifters are money, get them.

if you can find the right hyundai head, some of the 1.8l from sonatas(?) were small port 2g style and have a smaller combustion chamber, but i havent had luck finding any.

you could upgrade valves but stock sizes are good for a decent amount of power.

 

[bling5tatus]

Just put cams and springs in it.... that's all you need unless you're core is f'd.

 

[9 T GSX]

Oil Port mod

 

[wishihadatalon]

Plans/goals for the car? That will help a lot with offering advice. I'm a little partial, but I would recommend talking to Tyler at Force Engineering about cylinder head work and mods. The head/cam combo that he put together for me picked up 8mph (from 93 to 101mph) in the 1/8 mile at same boost and timing levels on an hx40.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Ditto on oil port mod and check your guides for play as this would be the time to have them replaced for a worry free head. Good seals also of course on top of what else has been suggested. The 3g lifters are a great upgrade so you have little to no lifter tick.
I'm sure you have heard it before but if you had a profile we would know more about your car and motor such as if you had removed the balance shafts.

 

[curt-s]

Yup. Hard to provide suggestions when we dont know what you are running. Cams on a T25 makes no sense, for example.
Port, polish.. is it even worth it? If we assume stock with no aspirations of near future upgrade, I would say no.

So, assuming you are stock with no profile, stock valves, stock or mildly upgraded springs and retainers (titanium need not apply) guides check and replace, and 3g lifters for ridding yourself (in most cases) of tick are prescribed.

Help us help you.

 

[bling5tatus]

Cams will pick up power regardless of the turbocharger.

Oil port mod - this is not an "upgrade".... this is a modification done if your head has been decked enough times to starve the oil feed through the corner stud hole. I was doing this before it was posted as an "oil port mod" on this forum and everyone started doing it.

If you're not having oiling issues in your head then you don't need to do any oil port mod. If you're not bolting a head that uses 11mm studs to a block that uses 12mm studs.... you don't need to mod the oil port. There is no "peace of mind" in doing unnecessary things to your car.

I also wouldn't change anything that isn't proven to be worn out. Maybe some new stem seals but that's it. Don't even do a valve job unless you have a leaking valve. You'll thank yourself for saving some money and not risking the machine shop potentially ruining your core with an uncalibrated machine (I've seen this happen more than once at different shops).

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

There is certainly conflicting information on what to do but I personally do what ever the head needs while it is off, be it on my DSM or on my SBC cars. If it needs anything, now is the time to do it or have to take it back off again just to repair something that should have been done earlier. Check for valve guide slop and if it needs it then for gods sake do it while you have it off. Wore out guides will wear out new seals in a matter of a few months or less. Oil porting isn't necessary but something that can be done while it is off of the car since it can't be done while its on. New valves aren't always needed, the stockers are a good component so only change them if you have the money and need them. I would check for pitting or unusual wear to make that decision if I hadn't already planned on replacing them. Springs/retainers are going to depend on the use but do remember...all of this stuff is OLD. So even changing to stock but new is a wise idea but it's a choice you will make (or your budget). Revised lifters if you have the cash and are tired of the old lifters ticking. All of this is just "suggestions" for you to ponder on.

 

[curt-s]

a set of 280 cams then. They would probably pick up the most power.. albeit a T25 (if so equipped, nobody knows) would be out of flow long before the expense reaped rewards and you would lose low end, but if s/he has money to burn..
if we suggest 264s, we might not be maximizing his powerband well enough either if his setup is significantly beyond stock.

Point is, unless we know the specs, no sense in suggesting something that only really works well if matched to the intake, displacement, turbo, and exhaust. Otherwise you end up with a setup that picks up power at 6500 due to cams and head work but is out of breath at 6800 due to turbo and exhaust flow restriction.
There are better ways to direct ones efforts and money.

The real reason I gave that initial answer was to encourage a profile creation.

 

[GSLENK]

Cams lifters and such (even valve stem seals) can be done with the head on if necessary. I agree, that I would focus on the stuff that cannot/should not be done with the head on. Those things include valves/guides/valve job, oil port mod (if desired)/port work/etc... If you want springs, setting spring height properly is easiest done with the head off of the car.

Everything else mentioned is a reasonable DIY job even after the timing is set if budget doesn't allow for it to be done while the head is off, assuming you have the proper tools.

 

[gsxlover97]

Alright guys so sorry about the lack of profile information. I'm trying to set it up now but can't figure out how to post my rides or pics really. I but to help a little bit the head came off today has all bent valves on the intake side. And I found out my manifold has a Crack underside. So new mani is to be gotten too. I my over all goal for the car is a daily driven 400+hp car or close to it.

With that being said I had a question about the 3g lifters do I just get the ones from the 4 cyl or the 6cyl motor?

Mods done to my car right now isn't much it has dejon upper intercooler popping with greedy type 's bov. K and n filter. And a cheap exhaust. So I'm pretty much stock. I I appreciate all the help guys and sorry for lacking on the the profile. Can someone pm me and sorta walk me through how to ad rides and photos?

 

[Chumpaumpalumpa]

FP Race Manifold then if you're gunna bother getting a new one. Don't forget new gaskets. I Suppose you can find some junkyard 3g lifters out of a 3kgt or something and clean them out really well. Or you could buy new $$$$