Posted by dave horvath on Monday, February 07, 2005 at 10:08AM :
I pulled the head to see if the engine had been rebuilt. I'm really glad I did. I learned it had been rebuilt with the original cast pistons because a couple of them are punch-marked with the cylinder number. I also learned that the number one exhaust valve was stuck open. Water got in under the head gasket and corroded the valve guide and spring. I had a machinist check the head. Sure enough it was warped in the front right corner. I'm thinking it overheated due to the cracked water pump. The machinist planed the head for me.
I borrowed a valve spring compressor and removed the valves. The valve stems were badly worn. Especially the exhaust valve stems. The guides were worn and the exhaust valve springs were collapsed. I borrowed a punch and drove out the guides. I ordered new guides, valves, and springs from NAPA. Just need to borrow an 11/32" reamer to ream out the new guides once installed.
By the way, how important is it to install stellite valves? VPWs sells stellite valves. Not sure about the valves from NAPA. Are all modern valves stellite? What about sodium-filled?
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