Most people use just the outer two bolt holes when fastening a cylinder head to a mounting fixture. If there are additional holes in the plate that line up with the threads in the fixture, then consider using the extra threads for increased rigidity. Dave Matton D…
Dave Matton D and D Auto Machine Bloomington, MN
When cutting valve margins down, we use this simple rubber doorstop as a damper to help reduce chatter as we cut the face. We keep various size guides, and washers with it to clamp the valve in the lathe. Using the tail stock, you can press the valve…
Adam Cofer Don Ott Racing Engines York Springs, PA
When checking in heads, it's nice to just use “Set-up Stems” instead of having a box of miscellaneous valves for testing. They can at least tell you if the valve guides are useable or worn. I have the common sizes, the ones I use a lot and plan…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
When doing port work and rolling the short turn radius, sometimes it’s difficult to get in there and get a good angle with the burr or sanding roll. I use a tapered cone type cartridge roll, but I flip it backwards on the mandrel. This will…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
When working with extreme cylinder head overheating issues, the spark plug boots can melt onto the spark plug, thus making it impossible to remove the plug. The best solution we have found is to remove the electrode at the combustion chamber end and use an "easy out" inside…
Luis Guzman Technomotors El Paso, TX
Measuring installed height on LS or any other engine with beehive or small OD retainers can be tricky without a special height mic. But if you take your standard height mic and flip it upside down it will work. You will likely have to take a measurement…
Nick Jones Automotive Machine Fraser, MI
When installing valve seats, you sometimes run across porosity that leads into water at the base of the counterbore. I like to pressure test after the counterbores are If you have a seat that you’re trying to seal up, you can make a positive chemical…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
It is not uncommon for the Volkswagen 1.8L, 20-valve cylinder head to require several if not all new intake and exhaust valves once it reaches your shop door. A failed belt, water pump and tensioners can provide quick and devastating havoc inside the engine and some valves…
Engine Pro Technical Committee
When doing port work, one way to get much more life out of your cartridge rolls is to cut the glue at the end and unroll and cut the sandpaper back to a fresh surface. This will also reduce the diameter for hard to reach places. I…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
When installing valve stem seals on OHC cylinder heads, I use a small pencil magnet on the top side of many valve seals to locate them over the valve stem. There is enough magnetic material on the seal from the tension band that the magnet holds the seal…
Kody Redman Redman-s Performance Oakhurst, CA