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Machining costs
omega0684 - 16/9/09 at 01:12 PM

two questions....

how much should i expect to pay to have the head skimmed on my pinto?

how much should i expect to pay to have a valve seat replaced?

Cousin Cleotis - 16/9/09 at 01:21 PM

I pay £22 for skim and £22 for pressure test, if the bore for the valve seat is within spec i shouldnt cost more than £20, its not a big job.

Has the valve seat fallen out?

alistairolsen - 16/9/09 at 01:24 PM

anywhere between 25 and 50 for a skim and pressure test.

omega0684 - 16/9/09 at 01:42 PM

yes, valve seat has fallen out into the cylinder and then been smashed to pieces by the piston, i know for sure im going to need a new piston, its just the valve seat

first quote: £30 + vat for a new seat and the £25 + vat for a skim.

second quote: the guy said that i should replace all 4 seats and said he could do me a complete unleaded conversion for £140 cash, which includeds 4 stainless exhaust seats + valves and then reseat the inlets as well as the press of new unleaded seats distorts the inlet seats? is this true?

smart51 - 16/9/09 at 01:56 PM

140 all in sounds like a good deal compared with £62 for 1 seat and a skim. If 1 fell out, what's the likelihood of another going the same way?

garyo - 16/9/09 at 02:53 PM

Is the head particularly special - ported? I'd have thought you could get a healthy unleaded head for £25.

Gary

omega0684 - 16/9/09 at 02:54 PM

ok so i've just been out to inspect the exhaust valve seats and the valves to see if the head has already had the unleaded conversion.

the valve seat that fell out is magnetic so im assuming its steel, the valve stem is magnetic but the valve head is non-magnetic so im assuming these are just standards valves as the inlet valves are completely stainless, valve stem and head?

am i right?

omega0684 - 16/9/09 at 02:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by garyo
Is the head particularly special - ported? I'd have thought you could get a healthy unleaded head for £25.

Gary


has race inlets at 46mm and heavily ported by vulcan racing (all valve guide in the inlet is removed), valve guides are brass too, HD springs.

mookaloid - 16/9/09 at 02:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by garyo
Is the head particularly special - ported? I'd have thought you could get a healthy unleaded head for £25.

Gary


As far I know they never made an unleaded head for the pinto as such. Being an old git I remember when the Ford recommendation was one tank in 4 to be leaded to maintain good valve condition. there was never an option to have an exclusively unleaded pinto.

Cheers

Mark

Canada EH! - 16/9/09 at 09:58 PM

If you can get a valve job and seats for that price take it.
We lost one valve head in a 520 cu in aircraft engine and the price is $70,000 Canadian, about 40,000 Sterling.
The valve head came off, went through the piston, then was punched out of the top of the block by the neighbouring connecting rod.
Forgot to mention we were in the air at the time.