wouldn't either of those ideas scratch the surface of the valve?

 

Valves are fairly hard. A wire wheel won't bother it. Just be careful around the seat area.

 

Scratch maybe, groove no.

Don't go crazy with it.

If you don't like that plan get some crc intake valve cleaner and soak the valves in it. It may break it up/soften it. Never tried it but will likely work.

 

Remove them, put some tape around the top of the valves and insert them into a drill. I use an emory cloth, White Diamond metal polish and shop towels to clean up the valves. You can lap them back in or if you choose not then don't but thoroughly clean everything back up, install your new valve stem seals and put them back together and check for leaks. It's also a good time to check your valve guide clearance while you have them apart to make sure you don't need to send them off to the machine shop for work.

 

alright i'll try the intake valve cleaner first. if not then i'll use some wire wheel (don't have a bench grinder with wire wheel...yet).

 

local machine shop was able to resurface the head by 0.005. I just went ahead and had them do it to the other head as well as clean the valves. next step is light porting on the runners and blend the bowls then go and lightly lap the valves.

 

If you got the money have a valve job done. 5 angle or what ever they offer. It does make a difference. Good call on the bowl blending too. A lot of the meat and potatoes of a port job is in the bowl blend and valve job.