Hi guys, Yea, I pulled my head out of the passenger side. I can see where the drivers side indeed would be a real PIA. Hope you ain't pissed at me.
Well, speaking of valves, are "Sodium filled valves" worth the money? I see them on ebay for about $80.00 for a set of 1800 exhaust valves (which is what I need). Is it worth it?
Note to self - Don't buy from GTX.
SMILES
Dale
Dropping a valve seat
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Bowman74
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:33 pm
Not at all; now I know. I'm wondering how "fun" it will be getting it back in!dphdo wrote:Hi guys, Yea, I pulled my head out of the passenger side. I can see where the drivers side indeed would be a real PIA. Hope you ain't pissed at me.
Not sure. I leave the lower end parts decisions up to Bob Donalds. I bet Ray has a good opinion on it though.dphdo wrote: Well, speaking of valves, are "Sodium filled valves" worth the money? I see them on ebay for about $80.00 for a set of 1800 exhaust valves (which is what I need). Is it worth it?
Thanks,
Kevin
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raygreenwood
- Posts: 11912
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
In most respects....and this is just my personnal experience, the sodium filled exhaust valves on a stock to stock-ish engine are well worth the cost especially....in areas where the weather is hot. Also...generally the German sodium valves are very well made. They last a long long time.
But....I beleive Jake has noted that in higher performance engines ....that the different rate of cooling of the valve stems on the sodium filled valves can lead to different rates of heat expansion that may leave the valve guide with too much slack on the sodium valves.....causing excessive guide wear due to stem movement causing changes to proper valve geometry. He also has stated....that he does not use sodium valves simply because that when they do break...they generally destroy the entire engine...not just a piston cylinder and possibly one head.
While that makes sense, especially for someone who has to warrant his work in a business environment....and whose engine are generally "ALL" high performance compared to stock levels.....I feel that for a stockish engine in which you excercise extreme care in building and maintaining......these valves are excellent. Ray
But....I beleive Jake has noted that in higher performance engines ....that the different rate of cooling of the valve stems on the sodium filled valves can lead to different rates of heat expansion that may leave the valve guide with too much slack on the sodium valves.....causing excessive guide wear due to stem movement causing changes to proper valve geometry. He also has stated....that he does not use sodium valves simply because that when they do break...they generally destroy the entire engine...not just a piston cylinder and possibly one head.
While that makes sense, especially for someone who has to warrant his work in a business environment....and whose engine are generally "ALL" high performance compared to stock levels.....I feel that for a stockish engine in which you excercise extreme care in building and maintaining......these valves are excellent. Ray
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Bowman74
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:33 pm
Just a follow up. I got back the rebuilt head and installed it a few weeks ago. The engine now runs great and has no problems. While it was apart I found that the shim between the head and the cylinder sleeve on the problem cylinder was distorted and was letting extra air into the combustion chamber. So that cylinder was probably running a bit lean (and hot) possibly contributing to the valve arms stretching. Of course the fact that used valves were put in didn't help anything. Well whatever it was, after rebuilding the head it's gone now.
P.S. I will never take a head off the engine again without dropping the engine out of the car. It was a total PITA.
Thanks,
Kevin
P.S. I will never take a head off the engine again without dropping the engine out of the car. It was a total PITA.
Thanks,
Kevin