6.9 IDI valve train questions + head gasket job

[8769bigred]

I also got my cylinder heads nice and clean today. Once my new exhaust valves are here I’m going to sit down and measure all the clearances. Got a quote from a shop today to do a valve job and they wanted 900$. That seemed a bit high. I’m going to have to shop around.

 

[Nero]

Shop around, the shop that did the valve grind on my v8 jeep heads only charged $42 per head, but I also had both heads machined, total bill was $280 for machine and valve grind....


Ah heck, I see you're in Portland... Give the guy I used a call for a quote,
Hutchins Performance Machine and Welding
5740 SW 56th Ave
Portland, Or 97221
5032467144

 

[8769bigred]

wow that’s a good deal!!

I’ll give them a ring thanks

 

[8769bigred]

Ok I have done some more research on the little plastic piece on my valve spring cap/retainer.

Here is a breakdown of the ford illustration for the 6.9 IDI valve train.

I believe part 6517 (E3TZ-6517-A) is the piece I need. Ford calls it 'oil sleeve' and it appears that 1983-1987 (6.9 IDI) you need 16 of them. One for each valve. This makes sense because they were on both intake and exhaust valves on my engine, at least what was left of them. I'm not sure what the purpose of this part is? Maybe to hold oil on top of the valve stem for lubrication?

Then it appears in 1988 (7.3 IDI) they changed to only requiring them in the exhaust valves and changed the part number to E8TZ-6517-A This part number looks significantly different than the E3TZ-6517-A that is found on the 6.9 from 1983-1987

I have 'upgraded' valve stem seals for all 16 cylinders from classic diesel design. I'm wondering if these seals eliminate the necessity of E3TZ-6517-A.

One thought I had was that in 1983-87 they just put the 'oil sleeve' on all the valve spring caps to ease manufacturing. Since the part was removed from the intake valves in 88 and changed to a new part for the exhaust valves it makes me think it has less to do with lubrication and more to do with preventing oil from intruding into the combustion chamber via the valve guides.

Thoughts?

 

[Nero]

When I redid my heads and the ones on my dads truck, I just put regular push on stem seals, no need to overcomplicate things.

 

[8769bigred]

@Nero ok I see. So all these different seal pieces are just the old style valve stem sealing system.