Cracked intake seats, how common?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Cracked intake seats, how common? Machine shop just called me that i have four cracked intake seats out of eight.
I didnt notice cracks when i ported them, but when shop did radius work on them they notice the cracks. All exhaust seats were fine. Heads are 1999 853 from corvette. Is this very common problem? Or do they crack easily when machining them?
I didnt notice cracks when i ported them, but when shop did radius work on them they notice the cracks. All exhaust seats were fine. Heads are 1999 853 from corvette. Is this very common problem? Or do they crack easily when machining them?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
I tried last night search this problem on internet, but i didnt found much. So i guess this is not common at all. I buy those heads only, so i dont know about history. Maybe all intake seat are in this case too hard material or hardened some how that they been cracked or cracked when they are machined. Exhaust seats and guides are fine so we change all intake seats only. Changing valve seats are not cheap.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
It came in my mind that now it would be good opportunity to go bigger valves, mut i already have good condition stock valves so i go with them. Im only looking for 400-450 hp engine with good street manners, so i think its achievable without bigger valves. In northern europe where i live, these engines are quite rare and its a bit expensive to build here because of freight and tax prices.
Yeah, 400-450hp isn't very difficult to achieve even with stock valves.
On the other hand, 853 heads aren't very desirable for LS engines. They're not bad, just not great. If it's so costly to replace the valve seats, how does it compare to get a set of used 243 or 799 heads?
On the other hand, 853 heads aren't very desirable for LS engines. They're not bad, just not great. If it's so costly to replace the valve seats, how does it compare to get a set of used 243 or 799 heads?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
I desire to have 243 or 799, but in this country there are available heads so limited. I always pay freight plus 24% of taxes if i order something in U.S. so when i get them they are not so cheap anymore. Putting new intake seats cost me 350 euros and it would be pitty if my 40 hours of hand porting work go wasted too on those 853 heads.
I try to manage to survive in this project what i have in hands now and see where i end up to
I try to manage to survive in this project what i have in hands now and see where i end up to
