Hi all,

Doing a head gasket job on my 86 951 and was considering sending it to lindsey and getting a level 1 cylinder head, which includes only the following:

Surfaced Deck.
Replace valve guides and seals.
Competition 5 angle valve job.

I'm not planning anything big for this car, maybe up to about 350hp. Is it worth the $600 or so to get the head from lindsey, or am I better off spending 300-400 at a local non-porsche specific machine shop?

Is 5 angle going to have any benefits over 3 angle? (I'm assuming most places do 3 angle)

 

I have been using local guys for years without any issues. I supply the guides and seals, they do the rest. Usually bill comes to about 350 including the parts.

 

If you wanted to do something like say o-ring the head, i would say have LR do the work for you (that is what i have done twice now) or bring it to a place that has done work like that before. Otherwise if its just a standard rebuild I just bring it to a local place.

Also have them (or do it yourself) drill and tap the hole for the steam vent fitting on the back of the head. I think it is a very beneficial modification to make.

 

Making sure the head and block is flat and square is important, but many can do that.

 

def not. especially for the work you want done

 

I've used http://www.autoheadperformance.com/ for two heads ($200 each), inexpensive and very well done. Also, only 25 minutes from my house!

 

Ok, I think I'll just find someone local like I do with my other cars. Anyone know anyone good in the boston area? I'll call EPE and ask them who they use in the meantime.

 

Well I guess my 89 951 qualifies for this disscussion. Stock head studs, Lindsey Stage Two O ringed head. Installed by the PO.
Prior to the head work the car blew a headgasket, when the HG blew the EBC got water sucked into and quit working. The owner did not know the EBC had quit. Had the head done ,installed and was data logging, he thought holy crap this thing is fast!

Checked boost and it showed 28 lbs! Got it home pulled the EBC and installed a manual boost controller.
Car runs fine (well when it's running, non engine related issues) Max chips and supporting mods ,stock turbo, 18 lbs daily on pump gas.

But yeah I think $599 for a basic ( OK 5 angle) valve job is nuts! It's just a 2 valve aluminum head, no biggie. Now anything beyond that and yeah go to the experts! But I think they should price regular stuff more realistically! Not everybody is trying to build a monster motor!

 

I am not sure about Lindsey but a valve job isn't just a valve job. There is alot that can go into a valve job depending on application. I don't know if Lindsey has put in any real time designing there valve job or just throw on generic grinds from a SBC who knows. What I do know is that in cylinder heads I work on most often (Volvo 850's) there is a TON that goes into designing a effective valve design. I for example have different valve cuts for a 94-95 head then a 96 and later Head on a Volvo an no one outside of myself had even noticed a MAJOR difference in the valve design. So as a result the otherwise identical heads are not so identical at all when it comes to flow and valve jobs.

 

Absolutely correct. Couldn't have said it better. As mosts have no idea what is involved, therfore have no idea what the difference between what production repair work is and what performance work is, it is best that they stick to their $300.00 repair jobs.

LR is one of them. They have no idea what work has to be done, how to do it as they do not do it themselves. They shop it out, so do the same.

 

There are only two vendors around this board ( one not on here) that does his own work in his own house and he does superb work.

However, having had three different Lindsey heads on different cars in different configurations, with different options, they deliver a good product. You may also check with Memphis Motorwerks to see if Leo Goff is still around, he does excellent work in house.

objectively speaking...

 

Id probably send the head out to a local place and skip the 5 angle valve job, unless youre planning on performance upgrades in the future. It'll run great when everything is new.

One thing that is worthwhile is to lightly port (more like clean) and polish the intake ports. Very time consuming, and people argue whether it should have a satin finish or mirror finish, but its definitely worth it.

 

On my Merkur XR4TI I had a 5 angle valve job done...cause... 5 is more than 3!

 

Oh my lord there are two of us.

 

No sadly long gone! Lost the head gasket, in the dark days before the internet. Still making payments car not running so I got a Pinto head slapped it on and gave the car back
Still have the rebuilt head! Still wrapped up, it's been about what 15 to 20 years!

Cool little car and now I realize what a dream that engine was to work on! Not like the 951 where they wrapped the whole freaking car around the power train!