CYLINDER HEADS
DON’T GET INTO A BIND

DON’T GET INTO A BIND

When valve train clearances are going to be tight, I like to double check my measurements and bench calculations by actually testing the components after they're assembled. I put the valves and springs in this head, then used my quill on the seat & guide machine to...

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BEEHIVE HELP

BEEHIVE HELP

Sometimes assembling heads with beehive springs and retainers can be difficult because of their size. I find it easier to use a spring shim that fits the retainer and large enough to fit the spring compressor jaws.  Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN

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DIVIDER AND CONQUER

DIVIDER AND CONQUER

When I’m porting cylinder heads or otherwise using the dividers, once the size is set, I put a couple witness dabs with a high visibility pen, so I can see if I’ve inadvertently bumped it and changed the setting.  It’s a time saver over checking it occasionally...

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LET IT SHINE

LET IT SHINE

When you’re grinding Titanium valves, if you want a super shiny finish, grind them with the green wheel and "Mirror finish". Wipe them off before pulling them from the chuck and give them 30 seconds of spinning with a microfiber towel and some Mother's polish. Wipe...

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SLIDE HAMMER SEAT REMOVAL

SLIDE HAMMER SEAT REMOVAL

Here’s a way to remove valve seats where it’s not easy to drive them out from the backside. This was from a flathead block. I tig weld three lugs on the seat I.D. This allows a junk valve to slip in past them. Now install a retainer and locks, and with a slide hammer,...

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PROPER HEAD MOUNTING

PROPER HEAD MOUNTING

Each machine style, or machinist, has their own bolt mounting system for ridged clamping of the cylinder head to the rollover fixture. Our Winona machine has 2 universal T-handles with 7/16" threaded rod and a fast mount bar it threads into. We have a variety of...

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