Diy Valve job

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273

273

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I've watching some youtube videos on being able to do your own valve jobs and guides.
I was wonder advise on equipment needed, mainly for magnum la 318/360 heads.
Like old valve grinding machine and or hand tool cutters etc.. ?
 
273 said:
I've watching some youtube videos on being able to do your own valve jobs and guides.
I was wonder advise on equipment needed, mainly for magnum la 318/360 heads.
Like old valve grinding machine and or hand tool cutters etc.. ?
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I’ve learned the hard way with DIY work. Take it in and get it done right.
 
Maybe I want to learn the hard way :)
 
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Can you take wore out and freshen it for a few miles?
Sure.
Is it worth the time and money?
Not usually.

Machine work isn't a diy thing for reason, else everyone would do it.
 
I appreciate the words of warning, I want to be able to do this for myself, without spending 10's of thousands of dollars on equipment, so anyone out there that does there own head work with modest tools, If you could list what you use and why and any tricks.

Please and Thanks.
 
I think it's great you want to try. I've been doing my own heads for years - some of it. I've had years of service from these heads. Some of these heads are still on cars out there after 20 years. I'll list what I do at home with common tools...
  • Disassembly
  • check guides and inspect heads.
  • Lapping the valves & check for leaks
  • porting
  • install new springs, valves if needed & valve seals
  • assembly
What I can't do:
  • install new seats or new guides. However, I'm sure it can be done with some "DIY" tools intended for that purpose.
  • magnaflex for cracks. But, I can look closely for cracks in common places.
 
The idea that machine work is some genie in a bottle is simply insane. You can certainly learn to do it yourself. I do a lot of my own cylinder head work. I've never posted it on here and never will, because I use old school methods such as stones and diamond sharpeners. Those who suck the serdi's balls would make fun of me so you'll never see me post up. I thought about doing a how to, but no way in hell.
 
RustyRatRod said:
The idea that machine work is some genie in a bottle is simply insane. You can certainly learn to do it yourself. I do a lot of my own cylinder head work. I've never posted it on here and never will, because I use old school methods such as stones and diamond sharpeners.
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If it works it works. I posted mine here, but if anyone wanted to see them they can go to my u-tube channel and watch them. I did the low dollar 318 heads on this site and over 4 years later they are still taking a pounding and most importantly - I'm happy with them! Cost? new exhaust valves, valve seals and new eddy springs and throw in a few stones for porting and maybe 125 bucks total.
 
318willrun said:
If it works it works. I posted mine here, but if anyone wanted to see them they can go to my u-tube channel and watch them. I did the low dollar 318 heads on this site and over 4 years later they are still taking a pounding and most importantly - I'm happy with them! Cost? new exhaust valves, valve seals and new eddy springs and throw in a few stones for porting and maybe 125 bucks total.
Click to expand...

I've watched all of yours and I like them.
 
318willrun said:
I think it's great you want to try. I've been doing my own heads for years - some of it. I've had years of service from these heads. Some of these heads are still on cars out there after 20 years. I'll list what I do at home with common tools...
  • Disassembly
  • check guides and inspect heads.
  • Lapping the valves & check for leaks
  • porting
  • install new springs, valves if needed & valve seals
  • assembly
What I can't do:
  • install new seats or new guides. However, I'm sure it can be done with some "DIY" tools intended for that purpose.
  • magnaflex for cracks. But, I can look closely for cracks in common places.
Click to expand...
Are you sure you weren't in the shop with us 40 years ago. :thumbsup:
 
RustyRatRod said:
The idea that machine work is some genie in a bottle is simply insane. You can certainly learn to do it yourself. I do a lot of my own cylinder head work. I've never posted it on here and never will, because I use old school methods such as stones and diamond sharpeners. Those who suck the serdi's balls would make fun of me so you'll never see me post up. I thought about doing a how to, but no way in hell.
Click to expand...
And this guy was lurking in the shop somewhere. lol
 
You can lap your own seats and replace umbrella seals. Thats about it as far as I can see.
 
Lots of bad info in this post. I paid 400.00 for my valve grinder and cleaned it up years ago. I have and can do valve seats with stones but I rarely do it anymore. I bought used Neway valve seat cutters off Ebay and pilots for every application I need them for. When I go to a bigger valve size I could do it but it’s very time consuming so I have them stripped down and cleaned and a local shop charges me 80.00 to open up eight intakes and do the valve job needed for the bigger valves.
 
o. s.
oversize stems instead of new guides
but you have to buy a correct size reamer and a bottle brush
but
what pittsburg just said
 
It's impossible to build high output engines without modern cnc grinding and carbide cutters.

That's how we won WWII! How else do you think the USA built all those massive radial and v12 engines for our Army air Corp? With incredible alien cnc technology of course. Can't do anything of note without carbide and computers, of course.

Neway cutters seem to come up a lot with the diy crowd. Also plenty of grinding kits. Grinding is an acquired skill that takes practice and an knack, but can be learned. Cutters can chatter, but same deal - they finesse and technique can go a long way.

If you've ever run a lathe or have machine experience I'm betting the learning curve isn't too steep. If not.. Well there's nothing can't be learned by doing.
 
pittsburghracer said:
Lots of bad info in this post. I paid 400.00 for my valve grinder and cleaned it up years ago. I have and can do valve seats with stones but I rarely do it anymore. I bought used Neway valve seat cutters off Ebay and pilots for every application I need them for. When I go to a bigger valve size I could do it but it’s very time consuming so I have them stripped down and cleaned and a local shop charges me 80.00 to open up eight intakes and do the valve job needed for the bigger valves.
Click to expand...

This is what I've been seeing people use on Youtube. Thanks
 
Phreakish said:
It's impossible to build high output engines without modern cnc grinding and carbide cutters.

That's how we won WWII! How else do you think the USA built all those massive radial and v12 engines for our Army air Corp? With incredible alien cnc technology of course. Can't do anything of note without carbide and computers, of course.

Neway cutters seem to come up a lot with the diy crowd. Also plenty of grinding kits. Grinding is an acquired skill that takes practice and an knack, but can be learned. Cutters can chatter, but same deal - they finesse and technique can go a long way.

If you've ever run a lathe or have machine experience I'm betting the learning curve isn't too steep. If not.. Well there's nothing can't be learned by doing.
Click to expand...

In high school took machine shop, quite a few years back, I'm sure i can figure it out lol
 
gilberttitan08 said:
And if it’s an expensive mistake? Like my grandfather always told my dad and my dad always told me. “Got the money to do things twice, but don’t wanna spend the money to get it done right.”
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It's got nothing to do with trying to save a buck, I'm building 5.9 jeep as a drag truck, want to do a little of old school engine building not looking to make crazy power, want see what I can do with my labour to get out of mainly stock parts.
Of course I'd be better off performance wise buying like trick flows or something, I have no interest in that, to easy to make power now days with a credit card :) I want to play around.
 
273 said:
to easy to make power now days with a credit card :) I want to play around.
Click to expand...

Not to mention that the reason we're losing so many "old timer skills" is because so many people want those credit card tenths and so few take the time to develop the skills and abilities that those old timers had to have in order to go fast!

Absolutely zero wrong with wanting to do more with less or wanting to develop some old school skills.
 
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