IHADAV8.com - Turbo Buick Tech, and Nonsense

Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: SuperSix on September 09 2011, 10:59:31 PM

Title: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: SuperSix on September 09 2011, 10:59:31 PM
I am considering picking up a set of ported heads with larger valves, milled, completely rebuilt, for about the same cost the machine shop is charging me to just go through mine, mill them, etc.

The heads I am considering had the stems cut for roller rockers. I want to use stock rockers and rocker shafts - will this be OK? It looks like the way the stems are cut, (to me at least) that there's slightly less area for the stock rocker shafts to sit on. Would that make them any more prone to breakage than if they were installed on a set of heads that haven't been cut for roller rockers?
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Scoobum on September 09 2011, 11:58:03 PM
Mark...here's not the way to do it...which is the way I did it...cuz I'm stupid. Buy a pair of bare castings...buy the big valves...pay someone to port/polish them...buy the springs...pay the machine shop for the valve job. I would have been further ahead cost wise to just buy a pair of Champions. If you're not looking to run a world record number...then I wouldn't even recommend a pair of ported irons.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: The Radius Kid on September 10 2011, 02:38:39 AM
I am considering picking up a set of ported heads with larger valves, milled, completely rebuilt, for about the same cost the machine shop is charging me to just go through mine, mill them, etc.

The heads I am considering had the stems cut for roller rockers. I want to use stock rockers and rocker shafts - will this be OK? It looks like the way the stems are cut, (to me at least) that there's slightly less area for the stock rocker shafts to sit on. Would that make them any more prone to breakage than if they were installed on a set of heads that haven't been cut for roller rockers?


If you're spending the money anyway,go for it provided there's no cracks in them,the guides are good and the deck faces haven't been heavily machined.
Machined rocker pedestals won't hurt anything.
Lots of guys with high lift cams run that way and I've never heard of anyone breaking one off.
As long as they didn't take too much off to clearance them,you should good to go.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: SuperSix on September 10 2011, 08:25:29 AM
Mark...here's not the way to do it...which is the way I did it...cuz I'm stupid. Buy a pair of bare castings...buy the big valves...pay someone to port/polish them...buy the springs...pay the machine shop for the valve job. I would have been further ahead cost wise to just buy a pair of Champions. If you're not looking to run a world record number...then I wouldn't even recommend a pair of ported irons.

I should have said it's a mild porting, nothing outrageous. And if I sell the stockers I have, I will come out ahead.

Thread:
http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/parts-sale/358906-stock-heads-w-new-big-valves-valve-job-modified-stem.html (http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/parts-sale/358906-stock-heads-w-new-big-valves-valve-job-modified-stem.html)
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Scoobum on September 10 2011, 09:09:12 AM
You'll come out ahead...if there's nothing wrong with them.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Charlief1 on September 10 2011, 09:12:00 AM
Not the best looking port work but the price is right. The pedalstals shouldn't be an issue but if you decide to get rollers for it then it's just a bolt on Mark.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: SuperSix on September 10 2011, 09:33:22 AM
Not the best looking port work but the price is right. The pedalstals shouldn't be an issue but if you decide to get rollers for it then it's just a bolt on Mark.

Yea - he did the port work, not the speed shop. I asked him for better pics of the porting and shipping costs - we'll see.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Charlief1 on September 10 2011, 09:53:48 AM
Porting isn't that hard so if you want to you should be able to square them up quite a bit.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Steve Wood on September 10 2011, 10:09:16 AM
I would go for it
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: SuperSix on September 10 2011, 10:13:06 AM
I was quoted $345.00 to redo my stock heads, with stock valves, etc. 3 angle, mill, seals, guides, etc. So it's almost a wash, and I will have a spare set of heads.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Charlief1 on September 10 2011, 10:26:42 AM
You just do a 3 angle Mark? Have the valves back cut and do a throat bore on the heads as well and they'll pick up more flow. A little more expensive but it does help performance after all.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Scoobum on September 10 2011, 12:38:29 PM
I was quoted $345.00 to redo my stock heads, with stock valves, etc. 3 angle, mill, seals, guides, etc. So it's almost a wash, and I will have a spare set of heads.

When ya' gonna start lookin' for a spare shortblock for the extra set of heads?
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: daveismissing on September 10 2011, 01:11:25 PM
I was quoted $345.00 to redo my stock heads, with stock valves, etc. 3 angle, mill, seals, guides, etc. So it's almost a wash, and I will have a spare set of heads.

When ya' gonna start lookin' for a spare shortblock for the extra set of heads?

For your STREET car
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Steve Wood on September 10 2011, 03:34:33 PM
I was quoted $345.00 to redo my stock heads, with stock valves, etc. 3 angle, mill, seals, guides, etc. So it's almost a wash, and I will have a spare set of heads.

When ya' gonna start lookin' for a spare shortblock for the extra set of heads?

For your STREET car



exactly!
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: The Radius Kid on September 10 2011, 06:43:36 PM
I would go for it


I'm with Steve 100% here.
Buy them,tear them down,check everything out and maybe tweak the porting a bit.
Lap the valve job in and go baby,go!
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: SuperSix on September 10 2011, 09:35:04 PM
Got some more info - 380.00 + 70.00 shipping..

" I mildly ported the runners.   I did not port the bowls. "

See anything I should be alarmed about?




Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Charlief1 on September 10 2011, 10:14:25 PM
A little rough but you can clean them up easily Mark. If you want the bigger valves ect then I'd say go for it.
Title: Re: Heads with modified stems, ok for stock rocker shaft use?
Post by: Steve Wood on September 11 2011, 12:13:50 AM
As I said, I would do it
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal