...which is blended into the rest of the port by hand, with a grinder and 60-grit paper. | 
The rough "as cast" runners are smoothed considerably with the 60-grit paper, which also helps remove the negative lip on the runner edges created from the casting mold. The Golen-prepped heads should considerably outflow the stock heads that are capable of 332/189 cfm at .600-inch lift. | 
Given the Mahle piston's -12cc valve reliefs and the Cometic .027-inch thick head gasket, the heads would have to be cut considerably (roughly .056 inch), to reduce the combustion chambers to 60 cc and achieve slightly more than the desired 11.0:1 compression. The chambers are poured to verify volume, and the intake flange must be cut to compensate for the severe height loss that will cause misalignment with the L76 intake. Since the heads have a lip for the valve covers to mount, this makes cutting the flange tricky on the Sunnen HBS-1300. Rinaldi uses a geometric formula for triangles to decipher how much to cut, and once finished, the heads are put in the jet wash. |
The Manley stainless steel valves are oiled and placed into the guides prior to micing the spring height with the Manley spring seats in place. The spec height on the Manley NexTek beehive springs is 1.800 inches. | 
Spring pressure is measured at 158 pounds installed (at the seat), and 345 pounds open (at .600-inch lift). | 
Viton valve seals are oiled and slipped over the valve stems, retaining the spring seats, and the beehive springs are compressed prior to being locked into place with Manley titanium retainers and locks. |
Golen drills the plastic lifter trays for oil drainback before inserting the trays and COMP Cams 875 zero lash lifters into the block, to help recirculate oil in the big cube motor. In keeping with the trend to use mostly factory parts, the GMPP Hi Rev LS7 lifters will be included once they are available. These hydraulic lifters were developed on the CTS-V race car, to reliably rev to 8,500 rpm. | 
The assembled heads and L76 intake top off the long block. Just as when the cylinders were honed with the deck plate,... | 
...the heads are step-torqued 35 then 70 lb-ft. |