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[ScottieMV6]

Right I am about half way through the head gasket change on my car. All the valves are now out along with all the stem oil seals and I basically have two bare heads.

Questions I have at this point are

Do I need to clean out all the inside of the heads? If so what is the best way to go about this?

When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?

How do I fit the manifold studs in at the correct torque? Is there a tool for this?

Sorry for all the questions but i am a head gasket virgin!

[Lazydocker]

Right I am about half way through the head gasket change on my car. All the valves are now out along with all the stem oil seals and I basically have two bare heads.

Questions I have at this point are

Do I need to clean out all the inside of the heads? If so what is the best way to go about this?

When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?

How do I fit the manifold studs in at the correct torque? Is there a tool for this?

Sorry for all the questions but i am a head gasket virgin!

Ideally yes... And I'm told the dishwasher works quite well But probably best to do it when SWMBO isn't about

[ScottieMV6]

Right I am about half way through the head gasket change on my car. All the valves are now out along with all the stem oil seals and I basically have two bare heads.

Questions I have at this point are

Do I need to clean out all the inside of the heads? If so what is the best way to go about this?

When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?

How do I fit the manifold studs in at the correct torque? Is there a tool for this?

Sorry for all the questions but i am a head gasket virgin!

Ideally yes... And I'm told the dishwasher works quite well But probably best to do it when SWMBO isn't about

Seriously? With normal dishwasher powder/tablets???

Anyone help with the other questions?

[Andy B]

......
When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?
 ......

One of these and a tub of grinding paste  & grind back & forth till you have an even continuous ground band on the valve seat.
People use a drill on the stem, but I've never done it that way  :-/

[ScottieMV6]

......
When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?
 ......

One of these[/url] and a tub of grinding paste  & grind back & forth till you have an even continuous ground band on the valve seat.
People use a drill on the stem, but I've never done it that way  :-/

Ordered, thanks Andy.

So heads in the dishwasher, grinding stick and paste. Someone just tell me how to get the studs torqued up and I will leave you alone for a bit!

[Entwood]

......
When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?
 ......

One of these and a tub of grinding paste  & grind back & forth till you have an even continuous ground band on the valve seat.
People use a drill on the stem, but I've never done it that way  :-/

IMHO that does NOT give a decent face... as all the motion is in one direction. The grinding tool between the palms, rubbed back and forth, then lifted, rotated 90 degrees, and continue... is the way I was taught.. 

I know .. daft old sod .. but it works .. 

[Andy B]

....
IMHO that does NOT give a decent face... as all the motion is in one direction. The grinding tool between the palms, rubbed back and forth, then lifted, rotated 90 degrees, and continue... is the way I was taught.. 

I know .. daft old sod .. but it works .. 

Agreed! A squirt of WD40 helps too   
 I must be a daft sod too.

[Lazydocker]

......
When re-fitting the valves how do I lap them in?
 ......

One of these and a tub of grinding paste  & grind back & forth till you have an even continuous ground band on the valve seat.
People use a drill on the stem, but I've never done it that way  :-/

IMHO that does NOT give a decent face... as all the motion is in one direction. The grinding tool between the palms, rubbed back and forth, then lifted, rotated 90 degrees, and continue... is the way I was taught.. 

I know .. daft old sod .. but it works .. 

I have done it both ways in the past (with mini/metro heads) and must confess I think that they are better lapped by hand

[Bent valve]

Personally, I wouldnt clean the heads until the valves have been ground. be extra carefull not to get any paste(only use the fine not the coarse grade unless the seats are really pitted which is unlikely nowadays)  anywhere other than on the valve seat, if it gets into the guides it will bugger them up very quickly.

If you soak the heads in a solution of biological washing powder and warm water for a few hours you can then hose the crud off 

[ScottieMV6]

Right so lap the valves before cleaning the heads. Clean the heads in the dishwasher or using the washing powder/hose method. Then I assume it needs to dry (if done in the dishwasher assume the dishwasher will do most of that?

[rodney]

dishwasher? pmsl ,

jet wash the heads off so you can blast all the shit from in em ,

the manifold studs aint hard , if you cant put a small socket or e tourqe , then lock 2 nuts together on the stud , then put it in and tighten up with a spanner,.

[ScottieMV6]

Have I been taken in by a little joke here? Should the heads go in the dishwasher?

Someone give me a serious answer

[Entwood]

Never put heads in a dishwasher .. but have put many other engine parts in, while SWTSMBO is at work of course.. 

The high temperature and strong detergent ensures that grease and other gunge is removed very easily ..

I see no reason why heads can't go in .... temps are well below that of the cylinders. IMHO

[djac]

Lapping 24 valves by hand? Sounds like hard work.

I've got one of these http://www.avenue35.co.uk/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=37739

It's the best of both worlds, converts the rotary motion of the drill into an oscillating action just like a lapping stick - only faster

If you were closer you could borrow mine......

[Entwood]

Useful bit of kit ... but quite expensive for one use ..