Machinists and DIY engine builders: Any special tricks to assembling new heads?!?

I'm looking at these new vortec heads, and it just hit me I can ***emble them myself. Aside from parts, a valve spring compressor, and enough whiskey to steady my hands to attach the keepers, what other tricks am I missing that the pros do?

What should I pay the machinist to do that isn't practical for me to purchase a tool and do it myself? I'm not building many engines in the future.

Thanks in advance!

 

Although it is pretty straightfoward and you can easily do this at home, most shops don't charge very much to ***emble heads. If you are not planning to do more, it would almost be cheaper to have them done than to buy the tools needed.

 

you will want to make sure and measure stem to guide clearance and hone to proper clearance..... this can be tough to do with the typical home shop tools, especially if the guides need to be honed to size......most of the vortecs I do need to be cleaned up and sized to the stem.....also , many times the spring pockets need to be touched up.


.retainer to seal/installed height on spring/ spring pressure at installed height etc. all need to be checked, and can usually be done at home with basic measuring tools.......

Fred