Todays question, no lead head

[jlaird]

Understand what I need are special exhaust valves and guides?? Is that correct?

Where do they come from? Have not seen in Moss catalog I think.

 

[jcatnite]

You should be able to find them in the moss catalog. Also, most machine shops can get the hardened valves, seats, and guides. Not sure if there would be any cost savings involved with ordering the parts yourself or just letting the shop procure them. Call around to the reputable automotive machine shops in your area and they can give you a good estimate as to what it will cost to rebuild/convert your head.
JC

 

[jcatnite]

Oh, its really only the exhaust valves, seats, and possibly guides that you need to convert a leaded head to an unleaded head.
JC

 

[Biff]

A "no lead head" consists of replacing the valve seats with harden seat inserts. Valves, guides, springs etal are the same. The head has the original valve seats milled out and the new harden seats pressed in. Choice is yours foor the cost of having the head converted you could do 2 normal valve jobs over many years. It's a pay me now or pay me later decision. If you don't plan on racking up 10,000 or more miles a year, year after year, run the standard set up.

 

[jlaird]

Oh, I dont't think I will get 10K on this the rest of my life. So not worth the effort?

 

[Biff]

Based on the price you state in your "morning activity" post Go for it or was that $ figure per valve? If it was for all eight do it. You will never need to worry about it again.

 

[jcatnite]

I've had problems with older American engines. Without the lead in the gas it seems that the metal from the seat seems to transfer to the head or just go away all together. The valves end up sunken deep into the head and you can get to a point that there isn't enough metal left to press a hardened seat in. For the money you are talking about that is pretty good insurance and a really good price for that work. Around here a job like that is $125 to $150.
JC
JC

 

[jlaird]

That was the whole head. Seat all valves, guides as required, exhaust valves and seats. Clean up an boil.