head job

[robert1839]

my medicine shop guy is going to have both the heads reground cleaned and he is going to take a look at the value guides and tell me if I need new ones if I do he will put them in to all for 65 bucks it sounds like a good deal to me, but what do u all think

[MG four six eight]

Sounds reasonable to me. You may want to think about having him machine the intake guides and install Perfect Circle teflon seals as well. They help reduce oil leakage past the intake valves and almost all modern engines use them. The job is fairly inexpensive to do as well.
Normally they are installed on the intake valves only due to engine vacuum exposed to the guides.

Bill

[robert1839]

ok thanks good to know i wil look in to that
what are some other benifts to that

[MG four six eight]

Primary benefits are reduced oil consumption and less carbon build up on the back side of the valves.
Excessive carbon build up on the back of the valves can reduce flow/performance and cause cold start issues, due to the carbon absorbing the fuel before it reaches the combustion chambers.

[robert1839]

is there a certain size or knd that would work

[MG four six eight]

Size is dictated by valve stem and valve diameters. There is a special cutting tool that machines the outside of the valve guide so that the seal can press down over it.
Your machine shop should have the correct cutter for the job. Locally I know that Tim at Valley Machine has the correct tools, as I had him do my clyinder heads.

Bill

[Moderator]

Locally I know that Tim at Valley Machine has the correct tools...

Tristan, if you'll click on "My Control Center" near the top of any of our thread index pages, and then select "Change My Profile", you'll be able to add your physical location and other details and then they'll show up in the lefthand column. Might come in handy for receiving more tips like Bill's!

[robert1839]

well i live not too far from bill so his Locally is the same as mine but i will do that anyway for others

[tbo]

A friend of mine is doing up a TR3 with the stock motor. He wants to get the valves guides and seats replaced slash upgraded to deal with the lack of lead in modern gas.I've been running my motor for thirty years with no problem ,,so I'm wondering if its necessary .He says its 350 dollars for the job.Seems like a lot for one four cylinder head. Any thoughts?

[BlownMGB-V8]

If the head has a high nickel content or has induction hardened seats it should be fine. Otherwise some valve recession will likely occur over time. Periodic doses of additive will slow this, perhaps to a manageable rate. Nothing lasts forever.

Jim

[robert1839]

my medicine shop guy charges 25 bucks pre valve seat witch is 200 that's pretty close I guess but I am told it has to be done

[Moderator]

Stop! Don't throw $200 at the valve seats of old Buick 215 heads. They'd be absolutely fine to use if they were in good shape, but if they really need $200 worth of work you should sell them on eBay and reinvest the proceeds in Rover 4.0/4.6 heads.

I don't know prices where you are... but here in the Denver area I can buy Rover heads for $30 each. (Price list.) No problem.

Here are the reasons why you want them: (1) smaller combustion cavities, so you get a higher compression ratio and thus more power, (2) bigger intake and exhaust valves, (3) bigger better flowing ports, (4) newer exhaust seat metallurgy, (5) better valve guides, and (6) much better valve guide seals. If you surf around on BritishV8 you can find all the details of making them work. (Example: I needed to add shims under my rocker pedestals.) Accessory bosses are different from Buick, but neither better nor worse. Use your old Buick head bolts (or studs), but don't try to re-use the one-time-use head bolts that Rover used.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Right, alloy heads have pressed in seats which are generally hardened.

Jim

[robert1839]

sorry I was thinking of the 4 cylinder head that came in the car