IMO, not enough to go through breathing all that cast iron dust! IIRC in the BBB section i read that ported manifolds were worth around 7 to 9 more HP for a 455 so a sbb 350 would be less. If you're on a tight budget and are trying to eek out every last bit with what you have it may be something you want to do if you have more energy then $$? Headers or an X or H-pipe system or even better, both would be the better way to go if you have the coin to spend on that? GL
look how fast Tom Miller went on stock small block exhaust manifolds. in my opinion no need to port them
I had the block setup to drill the oil pickup hole to 9/16" from 7/16", that's why the head is on an angle.
Sure it helps, but will never come close to shorty headers, and shortys will never come close to full size headers. I did take a die grinder to mine, and took out a quarter inch or so.
Anything to open them up is probably better than nothing but as mentioned, it isn't worth the time and hassle unless you have no money and lots of time.
Thanks for the input guys. I will not bother with it. Im hoping to go to the GS NATS and run BSA ( Buick stock appearing) class. Have to run stock manifolds. Headers are def a purchase in the future.
What do those guys run with a sbb 350 in that class? The "stock appearing" class I would definitely go with a stroker crank and the biggest overbore I could and high compression with a roller cam! It would look totally factory when the hood was opened! Sounds like a cool class! With the manifold handicap just get a custom cam with lots more ex. dur.@ .050" to get those spent gases out and the manifolds would be no problem.
I would pull off the manifolds and look for any soot marks, grind them, basically gasget match them. Shorty headers with the right down pipe are a major upgrade.
BSA is a bracket class. Cars range from 10's - 15's. Doesnt matter if he runs 14's or 12's. He will be just as competitive as the next guy.
Well, bracket racing is a little more than just hitting a good light. Your car needs to run consistant for your dial in time so you don't break out, meaning that you don't run faster than your dial in time. That is the hardest thing in bracket racing, weather changes can effect dial in times. For example I use to run the Friday night King of Street at Milan Dragway, the later it got the cooler it would get and the faster the cars would run if they could still get traction. So be aware if you're doing some night racing when the temp cools down your car is gonna run faster. If you really get into it you can get one of these and start a weather log for your dial in times; https://www.summitracing.com/search?keyword="weather stations"&kr=weather station While you're figuring out your dial in times when you race, you will need to practice hitting a good light as well as you already know because it can boil down to a hitting a good light. In braket racing the slower car gets a head start, the difference between the 2 dial in times. With a slower car I have seen guys stage "deep" which means when you pull your car up to the starting line and stage, the first stage light comes on and then the second one comes on then you inch forward a little bit more and the first stage light turns off that is when you're staged "deep".(not sure if staging "deep" is allowed anymore so before you do it check) Staging "deep" with a slower car helps get it over the starting line a bit quicker being those few inches closer. Instead of staring 2 lights before the green with a slower car, now you can start at the last yellow light before the green to hit a better light for example. You'll need to "dial in" your launch to know exactly when to leave though because every car is different. Its funny how the fast car guys some times complain about the slow cars because it looks like the slow car is almost to the finishline while the fast car is still waiting for his light! It psychs out some of those guys sometimes and they start to fast and redlight, so it isn't that bad to be the slower car in a bracket race. Fun stuff!
Yes, you have as good a chance as anyone. Read the rules and you will see. Bracket Style Pro Tree We should get two or 3 qualifiers on Saturday. Your dial is your fastest et in qualifying. No changing dial!!