Dumb question: What does it mean when heads are sold "bare?"

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Oct 4, 2005 | 07:50 PM

black_knight

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Dumb question: What does it mean when heads are sold "bare?"

Does that mean simply that they do not have any of the valvetrain on them? So that if I already have all the valvetrain bits (i.e. springs, seats, seals, keepers, retainers, pushrods, etc etc), I can just bolt them on to the "bare" heads and I will be good to go?

I should know this by now....

Oct 4, 2005 | 07:53 PM

TraMotorsports

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yes, you are right.

Oct 4, 2005 | 08:01 PM

black_knight

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Oh, and what about valves? Do bare heads have valves?

Oct 4, 2005 | 08:16 PM

Dixit

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Bare heads normally dont include valves either. Some like to use different types of vales.

Oct 4, 2005 | 11:02 PM

jasonsny

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Be careful on this one. Most BARE heads are sold fully machined in the critical areas including intake ports/entry, exhaust ports/entry and the mounting bosses for hardware and accessories. HOWEVER, many brand new BARE heads do not include final machining to the valve guides and seats, as the valvetrain components/set-up will dictate the final machining required for final assembly.

Oct 5, 2005 | 12:41 AM

black_knight

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonsny

So I have to not only be careful that they are machined to completeness, but also that they are machined to accept the size/type of the valves I have right now.

Is that right?

Oct 5, 2005 | 10:09 AM

jasonsny

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Quote:

Originally Posted by black_knight

So I have to not only be careful that they are machined to completeness, but also that they are machined to accept the size/type of the valves I have right now.

Is that right?

Yes. The main question to ask is whether or not the guides are sized. Most guides on a new casting, unless it is a factory O.E. replacement part number will not be finish machined or reamed. This is to allow you to best select your valves and based on the stem diameter and recommended tolerance between the guide and valve stem, the guides can then be machined to spec.