Surgery is just a needle and thread...how hard can it be ?
Diy Valve job
- Thread starter 273
- Start date
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my68barracuda
Well-Known Member
Buy some equipment, nothing wrong with stones, just takes more time. Whatever you buy make sure you can get replacement stones and stone holders and pilots, etc. Look in the Goodson catalog, or Regis Manufacturing catalog for supplies. You can get bronze guide liner kits on ebay reasonably priced from time to time. Be patient and you will find good deals. Buy equipment that has been well cared for, and practice on a few junk heads first, and you will do fine.
My question is: if you already have it in your head you want to do this, then why the hell are you asking for people’s opinions “IF” they think you can?
Just flipping do it. When it goes south then ask for help. If it works- tell your story.
It’s your engine , your money and your time not my decision if YOU can do it or not.
Just flipping do it. When it goes south then ask for help. If it works- tell your story.
It’s your engine , your money and your time not my decision if YOU can do it or not.
I want to add a little more free advice. When you go to look at a valve grinder, take a good, preferably new quality valve with you. Take a dial indicator and stand, chuck the valve in and use the dial indicator to check run out. If it has a lot remove the collet or balls, and clean them then recheck. You can get by with .001-002 ,but I prefer less. Also, you may want to take a marker to mark the high spot in the run out and rotate the valve in the chuck so you know whether most of the run out is in the chuck or the valve itself. Even new valves have some.
Krooser
Building Chinese Free Engines since 1959...
Go for it.
I recently came in possession of a 70 year old set of valve seat cutters and pilots. Pretty cool stuff....if I was 30 years younger I'd use 'em!
I recently came in possession of a 70 year old set of valve seat cutters and pilots. Pretty cool stuff....if I was 30 years younger I'd use 'em!
Hey! 273. Are you looking for new valve seats?
The guides are a press in and out so that should not be a problem if you have the press to do it with.
Replacing valve seats or cutting new seats.... hello Mr. Machinist!
Valve lapping is nothing.
The guides are a press in and out so that should not be a problem if you have the press to do it with.
Replacing valve seats or cutting new seats.... hello Mr. Machinist!
Valve lapping is nothing.
I never ask if I could do this, I ask what I need to do this, what are people using on this site to do their own.
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Start here.
45º Kwik-Way Valve Seat Stones for Nickel-Chrome
031-3100-21 : 110V 45-Degree Spline Drive Motor Unit
SX-HOLDER : Sioux-Style Valve Seat Stone Holder by Goodson
9682905, Palmgren Sharpening/Grinding Machine
9682905, Palmgren Sharpening/Grinding Machine
https://goodson.com/collections/dresser-tools/products/universal-valve-seat-stone-dressing-stand
That should get you started.
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PRH
Well-Known Member
One thing to keep in mind...... a lot of the old equipment you see was bought and used daily at a machine shop for many years. Often, until it could no longer do its job satisfactorily ....... and it was removed from service.
To be able to do a “valve job”, you’ll need a valve grinder, seat grinder, stone holders, pilots, stone dresser.
The prices for that stuff new are absolutely insane, so used equipment that’s in really good shape can bring top dollar.
Whatever brand/model you’re looking at, make sure parts and supplies are still readily available for it.
To be able to do a “valve job”, you’ll need a valve grinder, seat grinder, stone holders, pilots, stone dresser.
The prices for that stuff new are absolutely insane, so used equipment that’s in really good shape can bring top dollar.
Whatever brand/model you’re looking at, make sure parts and supplies are still readily available for it.
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Don’t let the guys saying you can’t do it st home be your anchor in life. You can do anything you set your mind to if you want it bad enough. I passed up a mill 5 years ago and still kick myself in the butt twice a month but I’m now 64 and my son has little interest in doing heads. Do you need a mill? No not to do valve jobs but it would have opened the door to doing seats exactly how I wanted them and do some testing. I sold a seat cutter (pilots, stones, and tool) and a valve grinder and cabinet for 250.00 to make more room in my shop. I bought it for 200.00 for a spare years ago. Deals are out there everyday
Plus I got my uncle he’s built a quite a few performance engines hasn’t done much in a couple of decades. He was big into street racing his 340 Duster back in the day. He’s got a couple valve machine, he probably wouldn’t sale them but I probably could use and get some guidance from him, he’d probably have refigure it out himself
Still like to get my own.
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Look for a Sioux or Black and Decker valve and seat grinder. Most likely you will need to replace the stone holder, ball bearing preferably, and pilots since they wear. A valve grinder should have as close to 0 play. Dress your stones for every head and only grind just enough to clean up the seat. Adjust the seat with top and bottom cut. Top angles differ for engine families. Pilot should be vertical when grinding seats. When done, check seat by lapping at least one intake and exhaust valve. You can also Knurl guides once. This works OK as long as you are not running strong valve springs. Get the right cutting oil and make sure you clean the finished guides very well. Hard seats, I'd leave to a professional. But I rarely replace them.
And don't for get the bounce spring!!!!!!
Broke too many stones before i figured that one out.
finessing a perfect round and sealing seat takes some practice.
Get a junk head and have some fun!!!
If you have someone that's done this before, the learning curve will be much shorter.
I finally had someone show me it was the operator not the tool that was bad............finally got valves that would hold water
Broke too many stones before i figured that one out.
finessing a perfect round and sealing seat takes some practice.
Get a junk head and have some fun!!!
If you have someone that's done this before, the learning curve will be much shorter.
I finally had someone show me it was the operator not the tool that was bad............finally got valves that would hold water
I say go for it!
... and another thing, don't let others project their limitations upon you! this sort of 'envy' is toxic! You determine your abilities, not others. Then, if you prove to yourself you can do it, you can tell the nay-sayers to go stand with their noses in the corner.
Like Pittsburgracer, I've got a full compliment head-shop at home. (among other things)
I takes A LOT of money to do this, in my case, worth every penny. The experience you will attain cannot be purchased.
If you weren't so far away, I'd help you myself. Get er done 273!
Like Pittsburgracer, I've got a full compliment head-shop at home. (among other things)
I takes A LOT of money to do this, in my case, worth every penny. The experience you will attain cannot be purchased.
If you weren't so far away, I'd help you myself. Get er done 273!
Sioux yes, Black and Decker NO, or at least check it out very carefully. B&D does not support replacement/repair parts. I have a B&D valve machine, got it out of a local school district bus garage decades ago. First thing I did when I got it was write B&D for owners manual and spare parts list, parts list was like 3 pages of "NO longer available". Yes Goodson has stones, they do you little good if you have no pilots.
Good luck in wanting to attempt to do your own valve jobs.....get some junk heads and practice.
Might be right there. I bought my Black and Decker years ago and started measuring and replacing what was worn. Works great still, but I only do my own stuff. Sioux was the best.
Oh! I have the exact same valve facer
! lol
Scored mine from a business I once worked for.
They hardly used it.
pishta
I know I'm right....
My 1982 Mazda B2000 MA serial 2.0 has valve guides that are installed with a F'n hammer! The FSM shows a guy with a mallet and a drive tool (arbor, ID and shoulder on it) pounding one into the head. These are obviously AL heads made that way but they have drills that center in the old valve guide and drill out for new ones. press in new bronze guides and ream to fit. Old seat cutters were the same, they centered into valve guides and had a flexible drill attachment that allowed then to grind off angle. If you got a set of heads that your not huge into port work or something very labor or cost intensive, give it a shot. I wouldn't practice on some Econo W2's or anything crazy but some throwaway 318's or Mag 5.2's would not be irreplaceable if it went south.
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