Thread: Cleaning up heads

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So if I wanted to take apart my 461's and clean them up, is it hard to get them back together?

Not if you have a valve spring compressor. Without it almost impossible.

Don

I can probly borrow/rent one, everyone is telling me to take to a machine shop, I like to do things myself

Nevermind, ill just buy one they arent that badly priced

Originally Posted by Edhurl

I can probly borrow/rent one, everyone is telling me to take to a machine shop, I like to do things myself

you may over look many things that a machine shop will check or just see from doing many heads over the years

when you get the spring s off take a file and go over the keeper gooves so if any hi spots you do not cut the guids when pulling the valves out they should go back in the same spot in the head when all cleaned up if using a wire wheel keep away from the 45 on valves and seats .oil valve stems when putting back together there many other things to check i do them every week so it abit more to it then most think they know

Sweet, thanks for the tips, and just so you know im one to research.till it hurts my head and then I decide if I can do it or if I should pay to get it done. Any other tips or things I should look for?

Originally Posted by Edhurl

Sweet, thanks for the tips, and just so you know im one to research.till it hurts my head and then I decide if I can do it or if I should pay to get it done. Any other tips or things I should look for?

yep there is many .as i take heads apart ..many times they never make it in my shop for a rebuild .i walked out the door and told many there heads were cracked before they made it to the door. so thats the first thing. crack s .they start off the seats and walk out in to the port or chamber most times i can see them. but if not i wet mag them so they can not hide threw this test. guid wear. check springs for good lbs or can be shimed . stem wear . stems tops if flat. looking at 45 that there not beating in or pitted on valve and seat .checking for cuped valves . many other things other then just valves . heads flat ? rockers studs not pulling up or getting cut in .

This is one area where you're time and money ahead letting a good, qualified shop do the work, IMHO. Too many things that experience teaches like Pat says, and done wrong they will make you miserable for a long, long time.

$25 for a local shop to do a tear down and inspection, yup going to the shop, thanks guys

I just did a google...there really is a town called Baraboo.....what a cool name
What are the people who live in Baraboo called Barabooites?

Originally Posted by Edhurl

$25 for a local shop to do a tear down and inspection, yup going to the shop, thanks guys

Can't even walk into most shops for $25.00 today Good deal

I have had Machine shops Do some cylinder Heads for me in the Past . One set I waited forever for then I had to take them back apart and redo them . Another shop different heads #186's they Cracked about 5 Guides Driving in New Guide inserts and reused valves that they should not have and they Left a few bad studs . Basically they wrecked a set of rebuild-able heads and charged for it ! Sure if Heads are well worn you can only do so much with them at Home . But then it's best to find better castings or New ones . I know Pat says he does great work and maybe he does . But from what I have seen most shops don't .

I also built these Double Hump heads as well at home and they turned out real nice

no tango I never said i do great work...my work speaks for it self for any one to check it or has seen it... my customer say that for me by the fact they keep comming back for more work .i just say on here how i do the work i do .i can not help guy s that do not know how to do there job right there is alot of them just like any other field of work

Yes most Engine work / rebuilding should not be done by Folks who have not worked with others who do know or through school have Learned how to do this work . And yes a worn out set of heads is just that and most of the time it would take hours of Machine Labor to save the castings . Ok EDhurl First Do you have knowledge of how to disassemble an Engine ? If so you can be walked through the how to on marking and Disassembling Cylinder Head's . Any How -> how many Miles are on that Engine ?