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Hot Rods Grinding Flathead valve seats

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Desoto291Hemi, Jun 6, 2022.

  1. Hi guys ,
    I’m beginning to get back to some things that have been neglected for a couple of years.
    My 8BA,,,(8CM),,,,,block is about ready to go to the shop to be bored,,,,,but I want to grind the seat’s first .
    The shop thats doing the block really doesn’t have the needed tools to correctly do the seats for me .
    I’m wondering if I could turn a piece of hot rolled that could be inserted down into the valve guide bore .
    With a 11/32 hole in it to insert a valve seat grinding pilot,,,,,,and then just grind the seats like any normal overhead valve engine ?
    I’m gonna go with 1.6 valves,,,,,,so the seats should clean up very nicely .

    Does anyone have any experience or opinions on this ?

    Tommy
     
  2. SEAAIRE354
    Joined: Sep 7, 2015
    Posts: 552

    SEAAIRE354
    Member

    I used to use the new valve guides that we’re going to be installed. They need to fit tight in the bore then put the clip in and hold it in place with a spring and piece of flat bar on top of the lifter to keep it in place. I engraved numbers in each lifter and installed the numbers in the same direction so they could be reassembled the way they were ground. This also allowed me to be able to lap the valves in. Probably over kill but this way I know that the seat will be concentric to the guid. I have also done what your talking about with good results but I would use cold rolled and put a slight taper on the OD to lock it tight in the bore like the pilot does.
    I’m interested to see how others have done it.
     
  3. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,033

    Budget36
    Member

    Contact me via PM, I’m sure I have what you need to do it.

    Oops, I see you want larger valves, no help there, but after you have the new seats in, I think I have tooling here to touch them up.
     
    51504bat likes this.
  4. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,597

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm having to assume that your are using adjustable lifters. Doing them yourself isn't going to fly if your lifters aren't adjustable because grinding the seat or tip of the valve stem is how you adjust the valve.
     
  5. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,254

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I have some of the guide pilots if needed, send me your address and I can send them to you to barrow.
     
    51504bat likes this.
  6. Mr48 ,
    I don’t understand your reasoning .

    The seats must be ground,,,,,,they are over 70 years old,,,and need a fresh sealing surface .
    Also,,,,,I’m going to a 1.6 valve,,,,,,the factory valves are 1.5,,,,,so they need to be enlarged .
    And,,,,,I will need to use adjustable lifters,, because I’m using a reground cam with a reduced base circle.

    But,,,,,,,even if I wasn’t,,,,,,don’t you grind the seats,,,,,,grind the valve face,,,,,,then set the clearance by grinding the valve stem down ?


    Seaaire354,,,,,,,sorry man,,,,,I meant to put hot rolled or cold rolled,,,,,I usually have cold rolled laying around anyway.
    I was almost asleep last night when I posted,,,,lol .
    Thanks man .

    Tommy
     
  7. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,254

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    This is what I have, what diameter is the cam fallower?
    20220607_170105.jpg
     
    SEAAIRE354 and Desoto291Hemi like this.
  8. Saltflats,
    That’s what I’m talking about,,,,,I was planning on making the bottom part,,,,,and then just using a normal pilot for the top to locate the stone .

    Tommy
     
  9. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,877

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    I’m not sure if anyone has looked into a mill cutter , for valve seats . You cut them fresh by hand . I don’t remember the name of the cutter . I have borrowed it from my Harley buddy a few times . I used it on numerous Harley heads and a Cummins Engine .

    To me this is the only way to freshen up any valve seat , it really does a top shelf job , easily at home in the garage .
     
  10. Are you thinking of a Neway valve seat cutter?
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2022
  11. deucemac
    Joined: Aug 31, 2008
    Posts: 1,637

    deucemac
    Member

    I also have one of those. It is for a Black and Decker seat grinder and will not work with anyone else's stone holder. I like it because it not only centers in the guide bore, but also centers in the lifter bore, making sure that the seat will be exactly on center with the valve gear. I have often thought of machining a matching unit and then center drilling it to accept Souix pilots since Black and Decker stones and holders are not easy to come by and almost everyone has Souix.
     
  12. I've done many valve jobs in my day, mostly using a Souix valve grinder and seat refacer. After seeing how nicely a Neway valve seat cutter works I bought one and never ground a seat with a stone again. Of course you still need the appropriate pilot / guide to center the cutter. I'm not sure if I have what it takes to do a Ford Flathead, I've never needed to do a valve job on one ... yet. :)
     
  13. Take a look at some of @Mart videos. He used a manual seat cutter on a couple of his flatheads (the French Flattie, IIRC) that worked out good for him. you might pick up some good info.
     

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