Valve spring micrometer

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That would save me 80 bucks and cutting the seats lol. The shortest intake is .036 from bind and the shortest exhaust is .041 from bind. Not quite the .050-.060 I was looking for. You still think it would be ok to run knowing that?
 
No he just cut the original seats as you can tell he didnt cut much. I think the heads where originally around 1.62 and the variances I'm seeing is the seats that was in bad shape and he had to cut more in those seats! I measured these heads before I ever took them to the machinist and iqad getting a really short height. And everyone in here told be it was because I measured them wrong and I wasn't using the correct tool so. I bought the correct tool and they are still to short! Haha. I think these heads are just made that way. Somewhere deep in my notes I have the original measurements I took with a snap gauge and calipers. Iirc I'm pretty sure it 1.62

I see. Have you tried juggling the valves around, as a poor man's way of equalizing the heights? None of those valves measure the same, I assure you.
Being's your not assembled yet. Try measuring seat heights with ONE VALVE only (Int/Exh). This is your control. Now write down your heights, seat to seat, and average them. (Use a sharpie and write those numbers next to the seats)
Next, use the seat with this averaged height, and do the same with each valve. ( write down this number on each valve.) Swap accordingly. Low seat with thick valve, high seat with thin valve.
now check your spring heights and see how much improvement you have.
 
I see. Have you tried juggling the valves around, as a poor man's way of equalizing the heights? None of those valves measure the same, I assure you.
Being's your not assembled yet. Try measuring seat heights with ONE VALVE only (Int/Exh). This is your control. Now write down your heights, seat to seat, and average them. (Use a sharpie and write those numbers next to the seats)
Next, use the seat with this averaged height, and do the same with each valve. ( write down this number on each valve.) Swap accordingly. Low seat with thick valve, high seat with thin valve.
now check your spring heights and see how much improvement you have.
No I didnt do that I use the same 2 valves in every cylinder to get a accurate reading. I will go work on that now and see what I cam get. If i can find a valve thata just a little longer than the other and put in the short one that would work out perfectly. Thanks guys this is great info!
 
Another question with new valves and a new valve seat should the valves be lapped? Seems like it would be a bad idea on new valves
 
That would save me 80 bucks and cutting the seats lol. The shortest intake is .036 from bind and the shortest exhaust is .041 from bind. Not quite the .050-.060 I was looking for. You still think it would be ok to run knowing that?

You can add probably another .020 to those figures to take up for the terrible pushrod angle. The small blocks generally lose about .020 lift to that ridiculous angle.
 
Another question with new valves and a new valve seat should the valves be lapped? Seems like it would be a bad idea on new valves

I lap any and every valve. I would blow brand new Trick Flows apart and lap them.
 
Another question with new valves and a new valve seat should the valves be lapped? Seems like it would be a bad idea on new valves

You can. If for nothing else, to confirm a concentric seat.
 
No I didnt do that I use the same 2 valves in every cylinder to get a accurate reading. I will go work on that now and see what I cam get. If i can find a valve thata just a little longer than the other and put in the short one that would work out perfectly. Thanks guys this is great info!

Yup, you might can lose some of those differences swapping them around.
 
No I didnt do that I use the same 2 valves in every cylinder to get a accurate reading. I will go work on that now and see what I cam get. If i can find a valve thata just a little longer than the other and put in the short one that would work out perfectly. Thanks guys this is great info!

Were you able to balance out your installed heights ??
 
I went thru every valve and every retainer and the shortest one i was only able to get .005 extra out of it

Oh, bummer. Well, at least you know the machine shop done a fairly good job..
How much more installed height do you need for them? retainer wise? .020"?
 
Oh, bummer. Well, at least you know the machine shop done a fairly good job..
How much more installed height do you need for them? retainer wise? .020"?
I need .010 more to get at least .050 before bind
 
I need .010 more to get at least .050 before bind

Wow.... can't ignore it. I've got 1 or 2 sets of those OEM retainers.. Let me see what it would take to knock .010 or .015 off of them in the morning. I'll get back to ya.
 
Wow.... can't ignore it. I've got 1 or 2 sets of those OEM retainers.. Let me see what it would take to knock .010 or .015 off of them in the morning. I'll get back to ya.
Thanks bud i appreciate it. .020 would be about perfect all the way around. I have a couple on the exhaust side that needs to be about. 020 longer too.
 
Thanks bud i appreciate it. .020 would be about perfect all the way around. I have a couple on the exhaust side that needs to be about. 020 longer too.

No problem ! I'll look into it. back at you tomorrow.
 
Thanks bud i appreciate it. .020 would be about perfect all the way around. I have a couple on the exhaust side that needs to be about. 020 longer too.

To satisfy my own curiosity, I went out to my shop and found 2 sets of OEM retainers..
The thickness of them vary a lot. From .097 ~ .107 and I don't know if the lock tapers are all at the same height either... Best I can do is get them all at, say .085 thick and hope for the best.
 
To satisfy my own curiosity, I went out to my shop and found 2 sets of OEM retainers..
The thickness of them vary a lot. From .097 ~ .107 and I don't know if the lock tapers are all at the same height either... Best I can do is get them all at, say .085 thick and hope for the best.
I measured all off mine and they where all from .098-.110 so they are about the same as yours
 
I measured all off mine and they where all from .098-.110 so they are about the same as yours

Well, these things are harder than I though they'd be.
The chips glow when the carbide hits it in the lathe. Here's one.
20200929_093703~2.jpg
 
This is probably a really stupid question, but how did you secure that in the lathe? Did you have to make a fixture?

LOL good question! I found a shouldered 7/16" NF x 2" bolt that fit real good in the center and held it with a couple nuts in the chuck.
 
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