I’ve found an easy way to set the valve stem height on heads. I get the two end valves to spec, then install light springs and retainers. This way I can hold the ruler across the top of the tips to adjust the others without needing 3…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
On older Harley Davidson Pan, Shovel, Ironhead and many other cylinder heads, flanged guide removal can lead to damage to the host bore in the head. Many times the guide is distorted and will tear up the bore as it passes back through. To stop this, use…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine Service North Branch MN
There may be some misconception in the automotive machine world with regards to new cylinder head castings. Over the years new car manufacturers have been very kind to our industry. It seems that every couple of years a new problem cylinder head finds…
Engine Pro Tech Committee
Every once in a while we get metal clad stem seals that just don’t fit snugly enough on the guide to suit us. Because of the volume of metal clad seals we use and my unwillingness to throw them away or send them back, we have a…
Timm Jurincie Tuf-Enuf Auto & Marine Performance Avondale, AZ
I like to use my Serdi pilots as go-no-go gauges when I hone valve guides. I made this aluminum handle from a piece of 1-1/2” diameter rod. I turned the outside for a comfortable grip and bored the center to hold my pilots. I select the appropriate…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
Don’t Fall Off Your Rocker Pins Several types of Honda heads have a rocker panel with a set of three rockers together. These rockers have pins that can easily fall out and be lost once the rocker panel is removed from the cylinder head. Before removing the panel, use a…
Ronnie Myers MAR Automotive, Inc. Philadelphia
Get The Parts! Customers seem to like to send you cylinder heads without sending the rockers, lifters, cams, cam caps, etc. Always have them bring all these parts so you can check them out along with the head, especially when it is a shim-adjust head with solid lifter shim cups…
Ronnie Myers MAR Automotive, Inc. Philadelphia
Dead Lifters and Cylinders We had an interesting issue with Cadillac Northstar heads. We did a normal blast, dye check, valve job, stem height adjustment, and surface as requested. We also did our normal vacuum test before sending the heads back. We were then surprised when the repair shop tech…
Timm Jurincie Tuf-Enuf Auto & Marine Performance Avondale, AZ
Make your daily life easier with fixtures and setups. An ugly back prompted me to build this stand for my valve spring tester years ago. No more bending over to check valve springs. This is comfortable and efficient. Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN June, 2015
Randy Torvinen Torvinen’s Machine Menahga, MN
Rubber Bands to the Rescue Don’t have enough hands to drop a cam shaft rocker assembly on a VTech and other overhead cam motors? Try using rubber bands to hold the rocker arms together on the shaft assembly to help prevent the shifting of the rocker arms and the pivot…
Kevin Elam Shaky B’s Hot Rods and Race Cars Liberty, MO