A
Anonymous
Guest
Took mine out after all that ratteling, 2 years ago, no problems encountered. No power loss. This was always a claim for more HP. but us old folks just never bought into that. Just MHO.
Exhausting Exhaust Port Divider Question
- Thread starter BIGREDRASA
- Start date
SixFoFalcon
Well-known member
I think I'm going to bolt the port divider in, and maybe use some Cotec (or whatever it's called) high-temp adhesive as well. The plan is to drill a single hole through the intake floor below the carb hole into the center of the port divider and tap threads into the divider.
As far as tack welding and/or brazing goes, I think many people make the mistake of tacking it in multiple places. Clifford's instructions recommend doing this, but I think it's a bad idea. The port divider is going to heat up much faster than the surrounding metal in the first few minutes of engine operation. Thus the expansion of the port divider will not be equal to the expansion of the head itself, and you will stress those multiple tack welds to the point of fracturing some or all of them. I think a loose fit, and a single tack weld near the center of the piece, would allow some differential expansion without stressing the tack weld nearly as much. But that's just a theory.
If you do a "full" brazing as shown in Junk-Falcon's photo, you are creating a strong thermal connection between the divider and the head itself, so the differential expansion won't be much of an issue.
As far as tack welding and/or brazing goes, I think many people make the mistake of tacking it in multiple places. Clifford's instructions recommend doing this, but I think it's a bad idea. The port divider is going to heat up much faster than the surrounding metal in the first few minutes of engine operation. Thus the expansion of the port divider will not be equal to the expansion of the head itself, and you will stress those multiple tack welds to the point of fracturing some or all of them. I think a loose fit, and a single tack weld near the center of the piece, would allow some differential expansion without stressing the tack weld nearly as much. But that's just a theory.
If you do a "full" brazing as shown in Junk-Falcon's photo, you are creating a strong thermal connection between the divider and the head itself, so the differential expansion won't be much of an issue.
60s Refugee
Well-known member
I once saw a coil bracket listed in the JC Whitney catalog that claimed would boost horsepower by 10%. It had cooling fins. Only an idiot would have believed it, but I bet they sold a mess of 'em.
My son once complained after I asked him to add a trim strip along the railing of our new patio deck. It was there for looks. He didn't think it would add any strength to the structure so he just couldn't see why I wanted it there. He did it, but he hated every minute of it and crapped the whole thing up. I had to re do it later.
Seems like many folks these days are reluctant to do anything that offers no obvious immediate reward. Marketers will advertize bizarre benefits to get the sale. That coil bracket never would have raised horse power, but it did look cool, was stronger and more adjustable than OEM, but it wouldn't have sold just on those merits alone.
So I start reading forum posts. I'm looking for the "right" way to get the job done. I begin to read various diverse opinions. I become confused. I see the HP increase opinions, I see the burnt header opinions, I see the cost opinions, and after all that, I still don't know why....just like my son and the railing.
So I get the book. Falcon Six Performance Handbook. It takes only minutes to realize the author is pretty sharp about a topic most hot rodders ignore (ie Six Cyl Performance). He outlines the whys and wherefores, and benefits, but doesn't claim 10% increase in anything, or any percent for that matter. He does show that the port divider is a single part of the TOTAL package.
If the engine is out, the head off, a guy who can weld being available, access to grinding skills, $20 bucks you don't need for beer, then do it! One thing this thread has yet to say (other than it coming loose and ratteling) is that it hurts to do it. Twenty tiny benefits out weighs no hurt, no matter how you stretch it.
I've got one in mine, its cool to have it there, even if I and my machinist may be the only two who ever saw it. The guys at the car show have no idea what it is or if its there, but I do.
I'd suggest you put one in, get it right, take a pic or two, cover it up with a CCI header, and then chill. You did the right thing, nobody got hurt, the engine runs at least as well as it did, and the header will last longer. If you give all this up some day, you can sell the head on that one well known auction website and get more $$ for it 'cuz the divider is already there! The header will sell too 'cuz it ain't burnt.
IMHO
Harry
My son once complained after I asked him to add a trim strip along the railing of our new patio deck. It was there for looks. He didn't think it would add any strength to the structure so he just couldn't see why I wanted it there. He did it, but he hated every minute of it and crapped the whole thing up. I had to re do it later.
Seems like many folks these days are reluctant to do anything that offers no obvious immediate reward. Marketers will advertize bizarre benefits to get the sale. That coil bracket never would have raised horse power, but it did look cool, was stronger and more adjustable than OEM, but it wouldn't have sold just on those merits alone.
So I start reading forum posts. I'm looking for the "right" way to get the job done. I begin to read various diverse opinions. I become confused. I see the HP increase opinions, I see the burnt header opinions, I see the cost opinions, and after all that, I still don't know why....just like my son and the railing.
So I get the book. Falcon Six Performance Handbook. It takes only minutes to realize the author is pretty sharp about a topic most hot rodders ignore (ie Six Cyl Performance). He outlines the whys and wherefores, and benefits, but doesn't claim 10% increase in anything, or any percent for that matter. He does show that the port divider is a single part of the TOTAL package.
If the engine is out, the head off, a guy who can weld being available, access to grinding skills, $20 bucks you don't need for beer, then do it! One thing this thread has yet to say (other than it coming loose and ratteling) is that it hurts to do it. Twenty tiny benefits out weighs no hurt, no matter how you stretch it.
I've got one in mine, its cool to have it there, even if I and my machinist may be the only two who ever saw it. The guys at the car show have no idea what it is or if its there, but I do.
I'd suggest you put one in, get it right, take a pic or two, cover it up with a CCI header, and then chill. You did the right thing, nobody got hurt, the engine runs at least as well as it did, and the header will last longer. If you give all this up some day, you can sell the head on that one well known auction website and get more $$ for it 'cuz the divider is already there! The header will sell too 'cuz it ain't burnt.
IMHO
Harry
SixFoFalcon":juvj4qrr said:
On my Aussie head there were two holes right above the port divider that originally is used for something i can't think of of the top of my head. We removed the pipe from that and tapped the holes. On the Port divider we ground little notches in it. Then used some allen head screws with jam nuts and bolted it in, then locked down the jam nuts. Never had a problem with rattling and it works well. If it looses up you just tighten them back down.
My machinist said he wouldn't trust welding or brazing on an old head. Since I had already bought the PD, I installed with an interference fit, after much grinding. So far, so good. I'll see/hear what happens after a road trip.
I went with an interferece fit on mine. so far no problems.
JoeJoe44":364qy5vb said:
Basically, make it fit snug enough that it doesn't rattle. The gasket compression keeps it in place.
