Help needed please.

[dustinlmiller13]

Hey guys. Has anyone ever owned or heard a set of flowtech raptor mufflers on a car? Did you like them or did they sound good? Anyways, I am building up my motor and wanted a new sound besides flowmasters. I am also in the beginning stages of port and polishing my heads. They are 291 castings with 194/150 valves. I am staying with these size valves but I was told that I should leave the intake sides rough and the exhaust sides smooth as glass. Is this true?

[MagicRat]

A few points:
1. Try to place the subject of your inquiry on the thread title line. It is much more useful to other members than a generic 'help wanted'
Trust me, we all want some kind of help.

2. Sound is sop much personal choice, its difficult to advise, if raptors would please you. IMO go to a car show or cruise night and ask what other people are running. I would also add that sound is such an important part of performance muffler design these days, pretty much no body makes a bad sounding muffler.

3. Generally, yes, keep the intakes rough, to help hold the fuel in suspension in the incoming air. However, as you say, smooth out the exhaust side.
It goes without saying that a good flow bench is the best way to port heads, however, without that, just smooth it out a bit.

Also, try to gasket match your heads and intake manifold , so there are no sharp ridges around the gasket area.