Chris

When I got a rebuilt head it came without the plugs in the oil galleries installed, reason being it was up to me to inspect check to see if all was clean and then install the plugs.

Carl Fausett

When you receive parts back from a machine shop, they should always be inspected and cleaned. Even if they were said to be cleaned by the shop, they will have picked up debris just in the shipping alone. No heads are "ready to bolt on" when they come out of the package.

Cleaning post delivery will always be necessary.

Having said that, Red Shark brought up a valid point and I am now including a note in each set of heads to go out to make sure all the oil galleys and check valve are inspected before they are installed on the car.

The machinist did not have to remove the oil check ball to replace the guides, seats, or plane the heads. But we should have pulled it and checked it before it left here none-the-less - the error is ours and I am glad he caught it. I have taken steps in-house to make sure this is always done in the future.

BC

From what I see, the contractor needs to also remove the actual plugs that sit at the ends of the oil lines during work. That way either it is the job of the owner or the job of the contractor to clean and install new plugs.

I will assume not many do this.

jeff spahn

928er

yes, my local source did remove the plugs, clean the oil galleys and install new plugs. they are bagged up and ready for installation....

Mike Simard

Some blame goes to this term "valve job". It's as though it's some simple, unimportant thing that anyone can do and just another on the menu of the machine shop and to be treated the same as if you selected the sand blasted bare block service.
It would be like referring to your new stroker engine as an "engine job".

jeff spahn

Is that like calling greeting someone a "hand job"?

Carl Fausett

Exactly.

In this case, the customer just wanted a standard valve job, and even shipped his heads in with new seals and guides for us to install, rather than buying them from us. Not unusual when a customer wants to do more of the work themselves to save some money.

But, when you order "ala-carte" be sure to specify every operation you expect performed.

We can clean and bag 'em like Gregg says if that's what you want, but then tell us that's what you expect so I can bid it correctly.

When I am assembling the engine, the cost of cleaning before assembly is in my engine assembly labor.

Regardless, what I said earlier still stands. I will tag the heads from now on as ready for installation or not cleaned, so the customer knows.

Tails

There is only one person I trust to ensure the standard of cleaniness I require before boxing up any item of equipment/machinery that I'm reassembling: guess who?

Tails 1990 928S4 Auto

Mrmerlin

Luan you should check the anti backflow valves in the heads.

What can happen is that the ball seat can get loose and then the oil will push it upwards this then blocks off the oil outlet to the cams/lifters then its only a matter of minutes before the cams seize and the belt snaps.
the seats should be green loctited into the head and also staked so they wont move .
The seats may be loose after the heads have been worked on at any rate the ball seats should be checked before you install the heads

blown 87

Carl you should know better than to ship dirty heads out, if they look clean on the outside most folks that have not had to buy a few engines are just going to bolt them on.

Your price should ALWAYS include sending back a clean part, ALWAYS.

How exactly do you clean your heads when the customer knows enough to tell you he wants clean parts?
What steps do you go through to ensure they are ready to be taken out of the bag and installed?

I know what my machine shop does, I wonder what you do.

Serious question.

Mrmerlin

Carl this should also be done prior to shipping out any head your handling

What can happen is that the ball seat can get loose and then the oil will push it upwards this then blocks off the oil outlet to the cams/lifters,
then its only a matter of minutes before the cams seize and the belt snaps.

The seats should be green loctited into the head and also staked so they wont move .
The seats may be loose after the heads have been worked on,
at any rate the ball seats should be checked before you install the heads

BC

This is extremely common unfortunately. Even Mrmerlin's betrothed boys up in Utah, motorsports SLC sent back some crap-filled heads to me. "Vendor issues" were also blamed.

jeff spahn

Ball seats. Can someone show me a pics from the PET so I know what these are? I haven't had my heads worked on other than having them machined down. No valve work. Gone through a can of brake clean each to clean them out. Got a few tiny shavings out.
Do I pull out the drain back valves and clean them or what? I never touched them, they are as factory installed them.

Should I pull out the lifters and go through a few more cans of brake clean and compressed air just to be sure they are clean, and then clean out this valve thingy? I don't know how to take out lifters, is it hard?

BC

I am sure Rob Edwards has a clean, clear, and high-res picture of the ball seal and the assembly there. Hopefully he can chime in.