head cylinder rebuild questions

freebird01

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my questions would be if your going to an exotic material/coating on the valves how will the valve guides hold up. as Russ was saying...you rarely if ever hear of a valve breaking.... but worn valve guides are most definitely an issue!!!!

will the black nitrided valves cause there any excess guide wear?
 

IDIoit

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supposedly as there being oiled, they compare the surface to that of smooth black glass, to promote better oiling and better guide wear.

its a new system thats just came out.
kinda pricey, done by a company called black lightning in kentucky.
they build them for tow drags in diesels.

the temperature rating is what got me all :sly


i cant find the website right now, ill grab it tomorrow when i go to the shop.
 

icanfixall

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Black nitrided coating has been around for many years in the huge steam turbine throttle valve shafts and many other high heat & wear areas. It does make the metals glide over each other better plus it protects better. High pressure steam (that is the 320 lbs and higher @ 1000 degrees) will cut metal when say a valve is just slightly off the seat. Stellite does not fare much better either under these conditions. Sometimes the look of the missing metal had what looked like animal teeth marks in it.
 

typ4

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I can get inconel but the stainless ones I get are same alloy as the valves they sell the hotrod diesel guys.

Grumpys is 20 minutes from me, never been there to chat though, and they buy from the same guy in portland I do. They may be direct with valves tho. Get a brand name.

Laserjock, I like stock springs shimmed .030.

IH uses the same spring, gas and diesel. KISS im guessing.lol
more later, gotta go help the wife food shop.
 

PwrSmoke

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FWIW, my original springs with roughly 140K miles on them tested at 77.8 lbs @ mounted height. The new springs from Sealed Power (VS-693) tested at 82.5 lbs., again shimmed to the mounted height spec'ed in the manual. This spring fits a lot of other applications, including the 7.3L PSD.

Remember that the amount of shims you should use is dependent on the valve recession spec... how far the valves are sunk into the head... to get the right seat pressure. You can add a little shim thickness to increase seat pressure if you want but you have to be cognizant of coil bind at full lift.

Valve springs any stiffer than needed for the boost and rpm range just soak up horsepower, decrease fuel economy and increase wear on valve train components. IMO, the VS-693 springs,and their equivalents in other brands, are more than sufficient for stock or mildly-to-moderately built IDI. Think about a PSD... runs two to three times as much boost as us and can turn a few more rpm. The vast majority of us are operating at the 3300 rpm stock redline and 10-ish psi boost, so the stock springs are more than adequate.... but if you need six, load six.
 

typ4

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FWIW, my original springs with roughly 140K miles on them tested at 77.8 lbs @ mounted height. The new springs from Sealed Power (VS-693) tested at 82.5 lbs., again shimmed to the mounted height spec'ed in the manual. This spring fits a lot of other applications, including the 7.3L PSD.

Remember that the amount of shims you should use is dependent on the valve recession spec... how far the valves are sunk into the head... to get the right seat pressure. You can add a little shim thickness to increase seat pressure if you want but you have to be cognizant of coil bind at full lift.

Valve springs any stiffer than needed for the boost and rpm range just soak up horsepower, decrease fuel economy and increase wear on valve train components. IMO, the VS-693 springs,and their equivalents in other brands, are more than sufficient for stock or mildly-to-moderately built IDI. Think about a PSD... runs two to three times as much boost as us and can turn a few more rpm. The vast majority of us are operating at the 3300 rpm stock redline and 10-ish psi boost, so the stock springs are more than adequate.... but if you need six, load six.

Well put, thats why I like the stock springs.
 

IDIoit

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thanks to Russ, ive got the last few items in line.

new items:
inconel exhaust valves
new springs
new keepers
new cam
new lifters
new head studs
new gaskets

i have coolant, oil, and heads are in the shop.

anything else you guys suggest?
i will be using the stock rockers (94 7.3)
harland sharpe never got back to me, and i had to get new carpet in the house.

i coulda bought 2 trucks for the price of this head job, but it should be pretty bulletproof.
 

icanfixall

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Might suggest using 6.9 head gaskets on that 7.3. Just open up the plugs the same size as the coolant passages are in the 6.9 heads.
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BTW that dot on my finger is the piece I found still stuck in the head gasket. It did not fall out when the gasket was made. A note to all when doing head gaskets. Look carefully for flaws.
 

jhenegh

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Excellent points! Still waiting on word for my heads, IDIoit, but I've got a very similar shopping list.
 

typ4

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save your old lifters, I would coat the rockers if you have time. Even doing used ones with the anti friction helps.
 

IDIoit

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save your old lifters, I would coat the rockers if you have time. Even doing used ones with the anti friction helps.

when you say "coat" what exactly are you talkin about?

i dont have enough coats for all 16 rockers, plus i would get cold in the winter!(sarcasm on the california winter)



really!!?!!??
none of you called out new dowels, just in case...
what kinda mechanics are you????
 

IDIoit

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inconel valves, springs and keepers are in!!!!
THANK YOU RUSS!!! your service is always outstanding.

my engine builder was very impressed on the speed and quality.

he said he would have them done end of wednesday.

im getting down to the wire.
not going to have time to swap the heads before monday....
i hope the ole girl makes it till then!

oil still not milkshake.
but i have not been driving it.
i did take it to the shop to drop off parts, and besides the hard start, she did ok...

gonna baby her until my kids get home!
 

IDIoit

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my heads came back today.
i checked them over, and they look good,

broke out the calipers, and a few things have me slightly worried, just want to run them by you guys.

the exhaust valves are inbetween .028 - .036" from the deck.

intake valves are from .060 - .045"

the overall head thickness from deck to valve cover mounting is 4.785"

he told me he took .005 off the deck, but it looks like ~.010 was done previously.

think ill have any piston to valve issues?

ordered my harland sharpes today.
as for Mike not getting back to me, his return e-mail was in my spam.
corrected the issue and ordered them today.
the same price for the rockers i have on my pontiac 467 im building!

i guess im the 3rd person that will be running these.
may have to go with a shorter pushrod tho...

anyone have an adjustable pushrod i can barrow?
 

IDIoit

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900 out the door.
minus pushrods.
girtled inbetween the I&E
full adjustable rollers.

my valve guides will love me!
 

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