GatesDavid@aol.com wrote:
>
> Ok, first of all I just want to give a big thanks to everyone who chimed in on
> my inpromtu top side engine rebuild project. Everyone really made this
> project much easier.
>
> Anyone want to know what the culprit was? Drum roll please......
>
> INTAKE VALVE.
>
> I went out today and got a compression gauge and read 150, 0, 140, 150 from
> front to rear. The Haynes manual says it should be 130-144, so I guess I was
> doing pretty good except for #2 obviously. I put in a little oil into #2 and
> retesting with the exact same results. So, not rings. I spent the rest of
> the day trying to get to that valve and finally got to it. It looked pretty
> charcoaled. It was visably open a touch so that pretty much summed it up.
>
> Questions:
> Would I be wise to simply replace all the valves with new ones? Thats where
> I'm leaning even though it looks like its gonna run about $90. From the looks
> of the head gasket, I think the engine got pretty hot.
>
> What about the valve springs? Is part of the reason for this valve not
> closing all the way due to the spring? For only $25 for the set its almost a
> no brainer to just replace them all anyway.
>
> So, now I have the valves and the springs covered. Not to mention the
> gaskets. But is there anything else I should be thinking about replacing
> while I have it all torn apart?
>
> Should I have the head resurfaced?
>
> What about valve stem seals? I could not find any on this thing and the
> catalogs don't seem to list them, or is it part of the valve guide? Whats
> the deal, how are the valves sealed?
>
> TIA,
> David Gates
> 1973 Spitfire 1500
> Hawaii
David, I had my head reconditioned at a Engine Machine shop not too far
from my house. I suggest you take your cylinder head to a machine shop
and have them do any and all work you need to have done. They can press
new valve seats, sleeves, check spring heights and rates, clean the head
grind and lap the valves, etc. I had mine done for $90.00 the shop
cleaned the head, ground the valves and seats, lapped the valves, the
valve stems Knurled, spring heights and rates checked. If anything
needed to be replaced, they would do it. They can also check for
flatness, regrind the face if necessary. Machine shops do a great job.
As far as I know, there are no valve seals in the head. That's just the
way they are made.
--
Patrick Barber
74 Spitfire 1500 (FM14774U)
"Go Red Wings" ... 1998 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
|