if your buying valves anyway then get the bigger valves cost isn't that much different . your shouldn't need hardened seats unless your seats are damaged or "sunk" .port ,valve job ,guides. also bigger valves take up more cc in head so you wont need to shave as much off.you will need springs that match the cam your using.have some bowl work done to help the gasket matching
Wont i have to replace/resize the seats if i get bigger valves? Thats going to cost more money on top of the difference in valves is what i was thinking. The TA_290 says TA valve springs recommended does that mean their replacement or stage 1 springs? Im trying to spend as little as possible and do as much as i can myself.. i know headwork gets expensive fast so i probly wont do any bowlwork i cant do myself. Any advice on how much this should cost? valve job, milling, and rebuilding the heads?
I just ported my heads and have valvejob done due to scratching seats. was about 300 with guides and shim springs. ta will recommend what springs you need with that cam. I am going to suggest not to be cheap on headwork as this is where all your power will be bottled up. and with the 290 cam you will leave out a lot of hp.can you spend 1200 on heads send them to trisheild performance or am&p machine these guys will get you the best bang for the buck and would know what you need with that cam.
Theres no possible way of me putting $1200 in the heads right now unless youve got the lead on the next horse race or something. In other news i just got off the phone with Paul from JE pistons, great guy! He got me all set up with a new oiler ring set up for just under $9! Hes having the manufacturing send it to them and then sending it to me.
Check with your machine shop as to how much to cut for bigger valve or just use what u have. they have to resurface the valves anyway .no sense in spending money on new valve and a valve job when I believe it was only an extra 200 or so for to cut for larger valve. Don't remember exactly since mine where done so long ago it will respond well with the cam
does anyone else have any opinions on if i really need oversized valves for this build? How about the springs? I called the machine shop and they gave me a rough estimate for measuring and milling the heads a valve job and rebuilding the heads for $450. Obviously he said estimate and wont know for sure until i bring them in. Also thats without over sized valves.
I do not know why you would not do the oversized valves. If it takes longer to save up the $ then do that. At least it will be done right. The oversized valves are a huge key to the 350 making good power, right next to head porting.
Wasting your money on the wrong cam with out them. Seans engine has a much smaller cam and lower compression and is making much more power.not to mention they take up cc of head so you might not need to shave head so much
Well my carbide burrs came in today so head porting will start this weekend.. then when its finished ill place an order with TA for the over sized valves and stage 1 springs. Is there anything else i need to order from them? Im gonna take the heads and all the pieces to the machine shop and have them mill (if needed) and assemble the heads, is there any other parts i should bring them? I kept all of the old parts to the heads, the retainers and keepers should all be fine right? Do i need to order seals from ta? Also i just noticed that the exhaust valves from the high flow and the stock are both 1.55 do i need to buy new exhaust valves? Also for the ta springs what does it mean by "Guides will have to be cut for smaller O.D. seals or dampener spring must be removed"
Yes. You want exhaust valves early heads only had 1.50 valves late heads had 1.55.machine shop will supply PC seals.when you order springs tell ta what can you are using so they can give you the right springs. Stage 1 springs may or may not be right for the cam . Take retainers and keepers to shop and they will know the right seals to use with the springs ---------- Post added at 01:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 AM ---------- If you have aluminum rockers pull them off and check shafts for wear then get shafts from ta also .you can get retainers from auto zone same as Buick v6 .
well my first attempt at head porting was a failure and i ruined one of the heads.. so if anyone has the lead on a cheap set of heads, or a set with oversized valves already in it please let me know.
did'nt realize how little i was supposed to take off and put a hole in one of the intake ports. I should have read a little more in depth as i thought you were supposed to open up the port as far as the burr would reach.
I would of messed that up too. I have a spare set to practice on though. Use that head as a practice head till you feel confident and know the limits. Post as you go along. As it is now you only need one more head . It's not so bad. Keep up the good work. Btw when I said I think we have a winner here folks.. I meant your effort and attention taken to the advice given here will turn this engine to a model for first timers and others to follow. heck this seriously is the first time I've seen someone take the advice given here step by step and I really want to see the out come. Thanks!
haha thanks! Seeing as ive never built an engine before i figured i should listen to those that have! And if im going to be putting all this money into somethin i want to be happy with the end results. Im only 21 so what do i know about an engine twice as old as i am? ---------- Post added at 05:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 PM ---------- so when im "opening" them up do i just match the outside of the port to the gasket and then blend it into the rest without really opening it up? and the smooth everything else out in the head?
Go with the contour and shape of runners for now. I use a stone grinder in that area myself. Just clean up runners and stick to bowlwork
Maybe this will help some. Here's some side-view cuts that Steve (Underdog350 I think his name is here) posted on another thread. This will give you an idea of how far in on some areas you can cut:
