After only 3 months...

[LJ851]

Ask the machine shop to lap the valves in to check for proper contact. There are other ways to check with the valves installed, but if you are removing the valves lapping them will give the clearest picture.

[LJ851]

Sorry i am a slow typer. Lapping the valves involves putting a fine abrasive suspended in grease (lapping compound) on the valve where it contacts the valve seat and then rotating the valve back and forth while pressing it into the seat. This action will create a finish like a very fine beadblasted finish where the valve and seat are touching. There should be a perfect ring on the valve and the seat. If something is less than fresh it will be obvious.

[ck_taft325is]

Got'cha.

The only issue is I was tapped out before my HG, retainers and VANOS went under the knife but am just barely managing to keep my financial head above water on this one. Luke knows the situation all too well.

That said, I'm not sure I can really afford having a machine shop lap the valves or even have the valves re-pressed into the head. I'm at this point in time, looking at just doing the retainers, VANOS and slapping the head back on without taking to to the machine shop. There was a little blow by on the head gasket between 1-2 and 3-4 that's visable, but nothing "obvious" about it.

[LJ851]

I hear you . It might be worth asking the machine shop what they would charge to measure the head to see if it is flat within spec . Then you would know your new head gasket would have a good chance of surviving at the least.

[ck_taft325is]

Yeah, I'm a bit bent about this whole ordeal.

[ck_taft325is]

$480.00 that I didn't have later this arrived at my door step:






Blunt doesn't fuck around. This was ordered late last night and less than 12 hours later, there was a knock on my door.

[Wh33lhop]

Aw shit. Sorry to hear about that buddy. :( Nothing like an engine failure on your only car to put your nose to the grindstone...

In the meantime, enjoy that Astro, it's two tons of fun. Good times in that thing.

[ck_taft325is]

It's like a really, really large puzzle.

[ck_taft325is]

Head's pressure test came back...















... flawless.

Cam locks, VANOS timing tool, VANOS rebuild kit, head gasket kit, valve retainers, valve guide seals and cam installation tools sourced, installed and nearly ready to be back on the road. Luke and I have a huge day of progress to make putting it all back together on Thursday.

I'll photo diary the whole ordeal and hopefully be driving myself to work on Saturday. Hell, I want to be driving it on Friday. If we can, I'll try and knock out the exhaust swap in a crazy "while I'm here" moment.

It's a load off knowing the head wasn't royally fucked in the ass.

[Jand3rson]

It's like a really, really large puzzle.

That's exactly what I've been saying since I started putting my engine back together. I actually really enjoy it, and it's very satisfying when you figure out where something goes!

[Killacortes]

damn and i thought i had bad luck! hope you getting running soon chris

[ck_taft325is]

I'll be up and running with a smoother power band thanks to rebuilding the VANOS unit. Not only that, if you need it done, let me know.

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey Chris, shoot me a link to get that goodie I want for my VANOS

[Matt-B]

your a mod now?

[ck_taft325is]

Hey Chris, shoot me a link to get that goodie I want for my VANOS

http://www.beisansystems.com/products.html

Sha-poopy.