12/29/04, 2/26/05

Head & rocker boxes built. Head required four new valve guides and seats reconditioned. Intake valves were damaged and required replacement. One spark plug hole was almost completely stripped. Rocker box components were in good shape. Notes below.

notes:

• All four existing valve guides were EXTREMELY worn and required replacement. One guide was incorrectly oversized and a very tight fit in head.
• Valve guide holes in head looked good and were not broached or scored.
• Installed four new Kibblewhite bronze valve guides. Three at .002 oversize and one at .004 oversize. Head heated to ~250F and guides chilled in freezer before installation.
• Honed valve guides to .003 loose fit on intakes and .0035 loose fit on exhausts.
• Confirmed correct free length of all valve springs.
• Replace two valve keepers that were chipped.
• Inspected valve collars and lower collar spacers. No problems found.
• Repaired stripped spark plug hole with sleeve-style insert that swages into head.
• Valve seats had been cut a few times previously leaving the seat areas slightly pocketed. Shaped & blended surrounding area in combustion chamber with die-grinder to remove obstruction to flow.
• Lightly polished combustion chambers to help prevent hot spots and carbon build-up.
• Cut all four valve seats with Newway valve seat cutters. Only light cut was needed to square faces with guides.
• Lightly lapped all four valves into seats.
• Assembled head and checked for good valve seal using dyed lacquer thinner. No leakage in ports after ten minutes.
• Disassembled and cleaned all head parts. Reassembled with assembly lube on valve stems, springs, & collars.
• Drilled & tapped rocker box spring clip screw holes to 1/8NPT. Installed hex plugs. Aftermarket adjuster caps will be used that do not use the spring clips. These holes can be used for venting boxes if owner chooses, by installing brass hose nipple and vent line.
• Inspected all rocker box parts. Rocker arms close fit on rocker shafts. No scoring on shafts or obstructions in feed holes.
• Lash adjuster screws and locknuts in good condition with no damaged threads and contact tips not deformed
• Assembled rocker boxes with assembly lube on shafts and thrust faces.

Here are some pics: