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Re: [TR] TR3A head rebuild advice

To: CFisher@borgwarner.com
Subject: Re: [TR] TR3A head rebuild advice
From: Bob Labuz <yellowtr@adelphia.net>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:32:17 -0400
On Wednesday 14 June 2006 03:45 pm, CFisher@borgwarner.com wrote:
> Hi List,
> I have a couple questions.
>
> Here's the situation: I have my original stock head, which is very cruddy,
> coked up and looks like the valves & guides & springs are do for
> refreshing.
>
>
> I also have a doner head that unfortunately someone has shaved .100" off,
> that looks like it has virtually new (standard sized) seats, guides &
> springs.
>
> My inclination is to have the stock head hot tanked, and have hardened
> exhaust seats installed. Then have all the seats surfaced and have the
> valves and guides transferred from the doner head to this one.
>
> I don't know what is involved in removing the old guides, is it practical
> to transfer them to the other head Or would it be cheaper to just buy new
> ones?
>
> Does this sound like a reasonable approach (for someone who would like to
> avoid going wild on spending for all the killer upgrades)?
>
> Any better ideas, suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Curt Fisher

Curt,

I dont believe transferring guides from 1 head to another is a good idea. They 
are not expensive. Also they need to be pressed in and out and set to the 
correct height. The stock seats are cast iron and may get damaged in the 
transfer.

My machine shop charged me about 240 $ to hot tank, install 4 new hardened 
exhaust seats, remove old guides, install new guides, valve job and plane the 
surface to insure no warp. I supplied new valves and bronze guides. At todays 
prices that is about 5 fill ups!

I thought that was a good deal.

The head is now installed on my TR4 project and the engine started right up 
and runs great. And this is with the static light bulb timing and a guess on 
the carb settings. I am sure the head work made a difference.

This same shop did the work on my TR3A head, which is still running great 
after over 26 years. The only difference in the work is they didnt install 
hardened seats. Back then we could still get unleaded.

Bob


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