Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Stuck exhaust valve in a flat head 4 cylinder. What to do?

Can valve seats be recut while the engine sits in the vehicle? (flat four). I've got rust damage on all seats. Two will prolly have to be recut. The rest can prolly be lapped. Valve man is coming for a look-see on Friday. Damn, I sure hope I don't have to pull the engine. Hoping he has a jig that lets him cut the seats without pulling the engine. (Its a jeep L-head 134 Go Devil). My fault. I let rain water into the spark plug holes and now I am paying the price.

Jordan

Yes,....piece of cake.

GTC

Crossfire:

I assume they have some sort of jig that you bolt to the head and power it with a drill or some such thing. I presume my valve guy has one.

Jordan

If I remember correctly, the tool fits down in the valve guide and is done the same way as if the engine were out. Same deal with OHV setup. He might find that the valve guides need replacing which should be an easy job also.

Good luck.

No "jig, no "bolting"

Goodway (among others) has expanding pilots that co-ax in the guide, and carbide cutters that slip over the pilot.

A GOOD hand can power them by hand, or you can attach a drill motor.

This tooling was common fare, back when the flathead was the rule, rather than the exception, and "In Frame" overhauls were common..

I'd venture the seats that you THINK need "cutting" would deliver fine service just lapped.

You're win-win regardless,.....and if your "valve Guy" tells you you need to pull the engine , he's a confused idiot.

GTC

Thanks guys. Really appreciate your expertise.

Edit,....wrong valve tool co. name,....

Its NEWWAY,....not "GoodWay".

Like Cross said, lapping probably would do it. That is done with a little valve grind compound and a suction cup on the end of a round handle.

Nothin to it.

Thanks guys. Good to have such expertise on this site.

The fact that "Clearances" were quite a bit roomier, and the "Marine Bearings" of that day were WAY more tolerant of particulate debris in the engine's oil,.....does NOT mean one should behave like a swine.

"Caulk" the ports individually with clean Rags or Paper Shop towels, and try and be REAL meticulous about wiping off all residual grinding compound, prior to reassembly.

Make yourself a "Valve Stick" and keep track of who goes where, in terms of Respective holes.

You ARE going to need a spring compressor, and you'd damn sure better plug all your oil raceways in the valve gallery ,....prior to srarting the "Knockdown",.....a lost keeper battering in the wrong area is no joke ( even though they'll mostly just disappear, you're still going to be SHORT one keeper).

I make up alla' my gallery plugs beforehand, with stout twine or wire attached to whatever I'm using,....I don't want little chunks of rag zooming around inside, either.

GTC

Jordan.....What Cross said. Great advise from someone who has been there, done that. You will most likely be surprised at what a little lapping will do. Best of luck, keep us posted later.