Recycle valves?
Is it possible to recycle valves when rebuilding a L-72 (427 / 425) engine? Or is it foolish to try to save money here? If they can be reused, what is the method for checking them to make sure they are good?
Joe
Joe
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Re: Recycle valves?
If they have sufficient margin for grinding and stem wear is no more than .0005", I think they're okay to reuse, assuming the guides are not worn or are rebuilt to new diameter specs.
Generally you will find more stem wear on exhaust valves. They are also more prone to themal fatigue, so replacing exhaust valves, apriori, may be a good idea.
If you do replace valves, I see no real reason to use anything else than Sealed Power OE replacement valves. Many "engine builders" insist on aftermarket "stainless steel" valves, often with special features like necked down stems below the guides. These increase cost signifiantly, but IMO offer no performance or durability improvement over OE for typical vintage Corvette use.
In many cases the OE exhaust valves are "stainless", but stainless inlet valves are waaaaaaaaay overkill.
DukeLast edited by Duke W.; February 6, 2009, 02:20 PM.
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