Hoarder's Garage

Here's a question for the machinists on the forum. I'm putting LS valves in an old set of SBC heads, and I cannot find the proper core reamer to do this. Stock LS valve guides are .500" OD, whereas SBC valve guides are typically .502". I'm looking for a core reamer around .498" (or 12.65mm) to get .002" press-fit, but I cannot find one anywhere. I am assuming that this size isn't used often after the initial build, because any issue with the guides would cause someone to go to a bigger OD guide. I made the mistake and assumed the guides would fit, but after I drilled the .500" hole the new LS guide pushed right through by hand. I'll be going oversized on that one, but it would be nice to use cheap off-the-shelf valve guides for these LS valve-train swaps. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

KCS

iTrader: (20)

When I've seen it done, usually the integral iron guides are left alone and a K-Liner is used to reduce the ID for the 8mm valves.

Hoarder's Garage

The liners are a good way to do it, but I didn't want to spend the $500 for the install kit. I don't know how many of these I'll do, so I was hoping I could just pick up a $100 reamer and call it good.

LS1MCSS

iTrader: (18)

Will this one work?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Threaded-Rea...QAAOSwBahVXTso

Hoarder's Garage

I don't know if that reamer will work, but for $15 shipped I just went ahead and bought it. I also grabbed some Dodge valve guides that are 5/16" ID and .502" OD (Sealed Power# VG5042). Hopefully I can figure out a decent conversion, because I also have a set of LT1 heads to put LS1 valves in.

Stampede4ever

I'm not sure what you need or what you are asking.
You reamed out the sbc head to 0.500", instead of 0.498"
On the dodge valve guides make sure they are the correct length.

Stampede.

Hoarder's Garage

I was asking if anyone knows of where I could get a .498" piloted reamer for the OEM LS valve guides. The common head tooling companies do not carry it. I'm assuming that GM must buy custom tooling, because it doesn't seem to exist. I did just buy a .498" guide reamer for airplane engines, but I'll have to spend an afternoon on the lathe the make a holder for it. As far as the Dodge valve guides, they are the normal .502" OD and longer than LS guides, so I'll install them, cut them to size, and ream to 8mm ID. When all is said and done, I might be kicking myself for not just forking out the money and getting the liner install kit. I figured getting tooling for OEM LS valve guides was easier.

Blowncoupe

iTrader: (1)

Its more hassle doing it your way but is a better out come in the end. I don't care for liners myself.

cookseyb

Check with Clymer reamers, they will make you whatever you want-need...