Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: ScottieMV6 on 14 September 2009, 12:06:38

Title: While the heads are off.........
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 14 September 2009, 12:06:38

I have been thinking. While the heads are off the car is it worth "refurbing" them a little? Obviously I am going to clean them thouroughly etc. but I was thinking should I be doing more?

Will I get anything out of it or are they pretty much ok without any work?

If I was to refurb them what sort of things would I need to be doing?

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: Andy B on 14 September 2009, 12:12:31

new valve stem seals, lap the valves in with a little grinding paste or at least check that there aren't any burnt bits on the mating faces of the valve. When I took off my Senator's head (failed gasket) a couple of the valves needed to be reground/machined.

..... and yes! You can borrow my valve spring compresor if you want!  ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 14 September 2009, 14:36:12

Thats all getting a little technical for me Andy. I'm worried I would get something wrong and wreck my engine.

Know anywhere local that would do it? Or is it easy enough to do?

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 September 2009, 23:19:45

An engine workshop would do it for you but if you've got to get the seals out you're 90% of the way there.

Well worth lapping the valves in IMHO.

Kevin

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: Andy B on 14 September 2009, 23:37:21

Quote

Thats all getting a little technical for me Andy.  ....

As Kev says, as you've got the heads off, getting to the valve stem seals is easy. Look inside the valve springs and you'll see rubber seals around the valve stems. Those are .... your valve stem oils seals.  ;) You need a compressor to press down on the top of the spring while you remove the valve collets from the valve, which them allows the valve to be removed down & out of the head. The bit where the valve seats against the head will have suffered some pitting, this is what you grind out.  :y

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 15 September 2009, 08:31:14

Ok so a borrow of your valve spring compressor would be much appreciated then.

I'll give it a go myself. What do I grind with? By hand with the paste or with something on the end of a drill?

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: Kevin Wood on 15 September 2009, 10:56:25

Sorry, I thought it was coming apart for stem seals but it's head gasket, isn't it? Crossed wires.

Kevin

Title: Re: While the heads are off.........
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 15 September 2009, 13:00:40

Yes HG it is Kev. Thought it might be worth doing something with the heads while they are off to save having to take them off again.  :y