claying heads

[Bhawkins854]

I'm in process of getting my heads ported and polished, getting oversized valves 60 thousandths larger and oversized valve springs of course. I'm also getting my jugs decked 50 thousandths for a compression ratio which should be 10:2:1 or a little higher. I have to clay my heads to check piston to valve clearance..any suggestions on material to use to avoid bending a valve? I heard silly putty works great? The motor is a post emissions 08 117 with a s&s 600 cam.

 

[Husker-Wolf]

Solder works too.

 

[MARV]

I agree with the thick solder.

I find clay to soft to measure exactly.

 

[Bhawkins854]

Solder? Never heard of that method..how about cutting away the pocket on my pistons if my measurement isn't correct? The measurement needs to be 60 thousandths from valve to pocket to make room for heat expansion. I was told a dremmel tool will work..I'm a little skeptical of that

 

[MARV]

Before you have the jugs cut you should measure your piston to bolted down jug at TDC. Zero being the magic number IMO

I'm at .015 in the hole with .060 off the heads for close to 12/1 comp

If you are tight you could use a thicker head gasket but that takes away from the quench.

Dremel the valve pockets in your garage? Sure why not? I relieved my tappet blocks with a file for the 640 cam.

 

[Bhawkins854]

I've already got my jugs sent in. The best mechanic at fury motorsports has all the measurements figured out already to get a good in-between comp. .050 off the bottom of my jugs leave the heads alone. He does lots of 117's. I've been told stock s&s Gaskets will be just fine, I'm not gunna spend the change to deck the heads now to get cometic :flag:Gaskets. Just waiting on my heads and jugs and I'm bolting her together thanks for the advice!

 

[Little-Boo]

Why do you have to clay with a 600 cam. I have a 650 cam, took 0.030 off the heads and went with the comatic 0.030 head gasket and 0.010 base gasket. My intake valves were upgraded to a 2.02 and the exhaust to a 1.065 and I still had plenty of room. The gaskets alone gave me 0.023. If you are going to use stock gaskets I wouldn't bother to do the clay thing. I even use Jim's hydro-solid lifters to keep the valves from floating. The heads also have the quench groves cut on them. I am just saying you may be wasting time doing the clay or plumbers putty which is what I use when I am not sure of the measurements. Just my opinion and you know how that goes. My compress was bumped to around 10.5 to 1. I am happy with that and so is my neck.


Carlos

 

[Bhawkins854]

Well since I am going with a moderate cam I don't have to worry so much about valve to valve clearance, I have 2 inch intake valves stock and I'm getting them oversized to 2.060 so I guess my main concern is valve to piston pocket clearance since I'm doing the ridiculous valve size. ( not sure what the exhaust valves are stock again but they will also be oversized). I'm gunna see how everything goes and maybe try a bigger cam when everything is done and measured up. And since I'm going with quickee push rods it will be easy to do without tearing into my heads again. Since this motor had the weak sauce 546 cam earlier it will be quite better than before. And also going with HD tappets I've been told that they pump up faster than the s&s I had before.