Valve Seats

[andrewjscott]

I got a new head and I think it may have sat for a little while. The exhaust valve seats don't look in great condition. This pic is of the worst of them. I was wondering if they can be cleaned up at home or should I just go get an valve grind done?

 

[DSMcamaro]

you got it done that far, you might as well take it to a shop and have the seats cut. they shouldn't charge to much the just cut the seats since you have it all apart already. Wouldn't hurt to surface it either.

 

[andrewjscott]

called a local shop, its 230 bucks for the valve work and another 55 to resurface. No deal on the valve job becuase its allready apart unfortunatly. But the valve work does include reassembly of all the valves, valve seals ect. I don't really know machine shop prices, what should I expect to be paying.

 

[98spydert]

Damn, local place here want $135 and $45 respectively. This is a relatively small town too, I'd shop around a bit.

 

[andrewjscott]

Yeah, here JB Precision is the only automotive machine shop that I know of. Theres a few machine shops i called, but they don't have the tools to do valve grinds--they all recommend JB Precision.

 

[NinjaTech]

That sounds about right for a 16 valve head. I paid 160 a while back for a 8 valve head to be done.

 

[andrewjscott]

if i'm going to get all the work done, is it worth it to get the guides replaced too.

 

[98spydert]

Only if you need them replaced. If it's a junk yard head like it looks like, go for it.

 

[deusxmachina]

I got a new head and I think it may have sat for a little while.

That's a new head!? . "New" used, I assume.

$230 is about right for a DSM valve job around here, and that's on the low side at a decent race shop. I tried two or three machine shops and they come out firing with $400+ estimates. I tell them it doesn't need new valves or any other hard parts, but they still say $400+, so I say bye.

You can clean valves up at home, sure. The most annoying part is getting a spring compressor that will fit. Other than that, if you're on a hobo budget, lap the valves with a $5 tool, get some new valve seals, and slap it back together. Pour water in the ports and see if you get more than little dribbles. You can cut the angles yourself too if you buy the proper tool.

 

[andrewjscott]

sorry, i guess i should say new to me. I know I have the option of lapping the valve, but some of the seats look terrible, and i don't think there is any way lapping will get them to seal. Valve spring compressor I didn't have a problem with, a friend had allready made up the VFAQ tool to help w/ the compressor. I don't really want to attempt cutting the valves myself...I'm no machinist, I think I'll take it down and bite the bullet and get it done, the head needs resurfacing too. The guides actually seems pretty good, but I'll have the shop check them out and replace if necessary. Is there any good way of telling if my guides need replacing?

And just for curiosity sake, has anybody ever cut they're own seats? if so how did you do it, and did it turn out ok?