350 groundpounder

iTrader: (5)

Got my heads off. 99k miles on them. Doing new springs, locks, retainers, and seats with my custom lloyd elliot cam. Can i get away with just new valve seals instead of spending $450 for head work and 3 angle valve job?

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

You should have the valves and seats looked at as well as having the heads checked to see if they need to be milled.

BALLSS

Since the heads are now off, I would have the valves cut for a 3 angle and check all the "guides" for the $450 and you would have "fresh" heads good for a VERY long time

with that said if they were still on the car you would be fine with not doing that and just doing locators, valve seals, springs, retainers & locks

if you had no oil consumption before and = compression on all cyl than the valve guides and seats are good.

Your initial post said you are replacing "seats"...I assume you mean what the valve spring sits on aka "locator" and not installing new valve "seats". If the later than you need a valve job to cut angle the valve seat to match the valve

Catmaigne

iTrader: (6)

Do you intend on getting the heads ported in the future? If you do then I'd slap them back together with new seals and call it a day. The valve job could go to waste.

350 groundpounder

iTrader: (5)

Yeah spring locators. Doesnt 450 sound expensive? I could drop 80 bucks off by not getting them pressure checked. What comp ratio would i have with fel pro 1074's and heads milled .10.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

If you know for sure they are not leaking then don't get the pressure test, but with that many miles the least you should do is check to see if they need to be milled.

BALLSS

ah .010, not .100. and the Victor Reinz .026 gasket # 5896

IDK what compression you get with stock heads but I would think 11.xxx. Maybe someone who knows the "math" can reply regarding the .026 thick gasket with stock heads and what compression you get. IIRC the stock AL gasket is .049 thick on AL heads

I agree with the post saying if you are getting the heads "ported" later than get the valve job done then.

If I were not touching the heads regarding valve job or milling, I would just get the Victor gasket and put them back on

of course sending your heads to Lloyd Elliott would be ideal.

350 groundpounder

iTrader: (5)

I would like these heads to last 30-50k so i prob should do a valve job. I dont want the thinnest head gasket, prob just the felpro one that it slightly thinner than stock. I want to port the heads and do a 383 once this engine grenades. Hope it will last a few years. Im running a 215/224 cam to keep rpm's low.

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

99k miles is nothing, unless they were abused/damaged through some kind of non-typical event. Check the decks for straightness within ~.003", look for obvious surface damage, and just put your new parts on and go with them. If they've been run so far with stock valve springs and stockish rpm, the seats are still in good shape. What you're considering doing has nothing to do with durability or lasting another "30-50k" miles; a fresh valve job might gain you 5-10 hp, that's all.

350 groundpounder

iTrader: (5)

I will take that into consideration. I will at least put new valve seals in. They should at least check the valve guides right? I want a little shaved off the heads for sure. Wouldnt it be easier to have them set up my springs and get the correct install height since i have no experience in this.
I have pac 1218 springs
CC 795 retainers, 611 locks, and 4705 spring seats "locators". Should drop right in and work great with my gm lt4 1.6 roller rockers i hope.