Valve seats

RubiconBear

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 31, 2012
Well, in the process of replacing head gaskets and a few other things on my 95 ZJ 318. I took the valves out to check for cracks.
I was planning on taking the heads somewhere to do that, but the only place that was recommended to me was Barnes Racing in Asheville. They're booked for a few months and couldn't get me in. So, I looked as best I could and didn't see any (I know, lame newb stuff).
The intake valves were a little rough, but not bad, should lap fairly easy and correctly. The exhaust valves are all a little rough, like in the first pic.
The valve I started lapping was a little worse than that one, but I got it to this point (2nd and 3rd pics). However, the valve seat now looks like the 4th pic and is slightly concave in the middle of the dull part. Is it too far gone now, or keep grinding? If it's gone, any other suggestions to get valve seat put in around Asheville? If it's not too bad yet, can I get away with getting new exhaust valves, or keep grinding with the current ones? This is our secondary vehicle, but I need to get it on the road soon. Thanks for any help.
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a_kelley said:
Seats should be ok with new valves. If you grind those, there won't be enough margin left on the valve. My $.02
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I agree with you on this. Seat doesnt look terrible, valve is shot though.
 
There's a shop in Forest City, Carolina Engineering. Jeff's a good dude and does all my work. He's been good to me about turn around time.
 
a_kelley said:
Seats should be ok with new valves. If you grind those, there won't be enough margin left on the valve. My $.02
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Thanks man. I was trying to save the $100 for the valves. I should have went with my gut in the first place. I'll order them today.
The slight concaveness of the seat will grind down properly with the new valves?

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a_kelley said:
There's a shop in Forest City, Carolina Engineering. Jeff's a good dude and does all my work. He's been good to me about turn around time.
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I'll keep that in mind if I keep goofing up, lol. I'm the guy in the meme that says "This will only take an hour...then 8 hours later I'm finally done."

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RubiconBear said:
I'll keep that in mind if I keep goofing up, lol. I'm the guy in the meme that says "This will only take an hour...then 8 hours later I'm finally done."

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Not sure where you are at, but there is a guy in jonesville that does all of my head and engine machining. He also did the work on our race cars.
 
JSJJ388 said:
Not sure where you are at, but there is a guy in jonesville that does all of my head and engine machining. He also did the work on our race cars.
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I'm west of Asheville, so a little too far, but thank you.
When I lap the new valve, will it smooth out the seat properly and get rid of the concave part (that I created)?
 
RubiconBear said:
I'm west of Asheville, so a little too far, but thank you.
When I lap the new valve, will it smooth out the seat properly and get rid of the concave part (that I created)?
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Yea, thats a hike. It should fix the seat. Im no valve expert (thats why I have my go to guy).
 
I use the Advance Auto machine shop (old Carquest) on Hendersonville Rd in Arden for all of my OEM type engine machining. They've always gotten me in quickly and the work has been great.
828-687-2708
 
Jody Treadway said:
I use the Advance Auto machine shop (old Carquest) on Hendersonville Rd in Arden for all of my OEM type engine machining. They've always gotten me in quickly and the work has been great.
828-687-2708
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Good to know. Didn't realize Advance did that sort of thing. I get over that way every so often since my mil lives in Arden. Thanks man.
 
RubiconBear said:
Good to know. Didn't realize Advance did that sort of thing. I get over that way every so often since my mil lives in Arden. Thanks man.
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Advance doesn't really, but that particular store used to be a Carquest that happened to have a machine shop as well. Once the AAP takeover took place, they kept the CQ employees and shop.
They do everything aside from crank turning. Only one guy around here does that.
 
Went to the machine shop, they said it should grind out just fine with new valves. It appears to have worked (sorry, forgot pic before assembling head). I'll update again when I put a little gas in the "bowl," or whatever you call it, too see if it sealed properly. Fingers crossed.
 
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