I just finish checking my valves to make sure they were seated, however one intake valve formed a running stream and leaked one drop about every 4 seconds . I'm using rubbing alcohol as a liquid in each port with the head level and it started leaking as soon as I poured the alcohol into the port. This is my AFR 195 Heads. The other intake and exhaust valve did not leak while sitting for 5 minutes w/ alcohol. Should I take them to my machine shop and have them reseat the one valve or do I have any other option. My plan was to install the heads and valve train tonight while watching the NBA Finals. The plan has been ruined.

First thing I'd do is remove the valve and inspect. Clean and possilby reassemble and check. If nothing looks wrong I'd lap the valve and check. You could try to check runout on the valve itself.

Originally posted by Doug F.:
First thing I'd do is remove the valve and inspect. Clean and possilby reassemble and check. If nothing looks wrong I'd lap the valve and check. You could try to check runout on the valve itself. =
I agree with Doug,,
You will very probably find nothing wrong except some crap on the seat or valve face.

I just finish taking the heads apart (valves, springs, Retainer, locks, and seals). To my disbelief their was alot of rust on the seat and metal shaving throughout the head and under the shims. The problem for the leak was trash or metal shaving on the seat. I used compressed air to run down the intake port while hitting the top of the valve with a rubber hammer, after doing this I recheck with rubbing alcohol without a leak. I cleaned the intake and exhaust ports with acetone and remove all the surface rust. Tomorrow i'm going to bring them to my local machine shop and have them check the heads for warpage and test each spring to verify the seat and open pressure. All the guide to stem clearance seem find to where it moved freely without any binding.
Maybe i'm being anal about checking over these heads but I wonder what would have been the end result if the valve that leaked really was because it needed seated. redface.gif

I'd be more worried about the shavings. Take them puppies apart and clean them real good. ;)

Originally posted by DEEBOO:
I just finish taking the heads apart (valves, springs, Retainer, locks, and seals). To my disbelief their was alot of rust on the seat and metal shaving throughout the head and under the shims. The problem for the leak was trash or metal shaving on the seat. I used compressed air to run down the intake port while hitting the top of the valve with a rubber hammer, after doing this I recheck with rubbing alcohol without a leak. I cleaned the intake and exhaust ports with acetone and remove all the surface rust. Tomorrow i'm going to bring them to my local machine shop and have them check the heads for warpage and test each spring to verify the seat and open pressure. All the guide to stem clearance seem find to where it moved freely without any binding.
Maybe i'm being anal about checking over these heads but I wonder what would have been the end result if the valve that leaked really was because it needed seated. redface.gif =
Deeboo,
Checking is NEVER being anal graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I have one exhaust valve port that that looked likes to much metal was removed and the CNC machined metal is pitted which could hurt the flow. I will see what my machininst says today then call AFR to find out my options and whats happening with QC.

Personally I would never install anyones assembled heads without taking apart, thoroughly cleaning and inspecting. If a company spent the time I do checking things the heads would be $2,000. That's still no excuse for quality concerns.

I definitely second that. Just got a set of heads from a well-reputed company that were totally packed with black casting sand. In the ports, in the chambers, in the coolant passages, everywhere...and they came assembled!

I disassembled them and followed BillK's recommendation...filled up a big bin with hot water and Simple Green, and used pipe brushes and compressed air to clean the castings out. I ended up with 1/16" of sand on the bottom of the bin after cleaning both heads. Unbelievable!

Originally posted by DEEBOO:
I have one exhaust valve port that that looked likes to much metal was removed and the CNC machined metal is pitted which could hurt the flow. I will see what my machininst says today then call AFR to find out my options and whats happening with QC. =
When you say it looks like the CNC took too much metal out does it look like the cutter missed some spots & you can see the rough casting?

If so this is completely normal on CNC heads as the casting are done close to size & the nature of a casting is such that it is going to have some voids.

If you want a CNC'd & completely hand finished head expect to pay a accordingly. ;)
I have a set of 18 degree HRD heads sitting here that have $7500 in them :eek:
Absolutely gorgeous but a bit much for the average street car.

In all the years of dealing with AFR & Brodix I haven't gotten one set of heads that were not exceptionally well done & acceptable.

I am not saying there aren't some that get through just that I haven't seen them & if it is a bad or pitted casting I would be on the phone bitchin.

There were some that had casting showing where the program didn't finish the surface but this is in my opinion cosmetic & while it could be hand finished I doubt you would see much if any improvement in flow.
You need to realize you are looking at a machine finished head & it cannot cut metal where there is none. You can do more harm than good making the port larger just to make it pretty.

As Doug does, we also take all heads apart & inspect them but I have never had to change or redo anything I received from AFR or Brodix.
I have gotten machining crap out of the water jackets from both but it is virtually impossible to get all this out while cleaning the heads.
We spend an outrageous amount of time cleaning heads & blocks we do & sometimes I still get crap out of them when I am assembling the engine redface.gif
===
But,,,, what 70L34 found is ridiculous for a complete head & is what I have seen from a few of the good deal places that buy bare heads & throw them together.
If it was from a "reputable company" I would at least call & inform them. If they are reputable I would assume they would like to know someone isn't doing their job.
Most of the bare Dart & World & Pro heads I do are full of metal & crap from the machining process but they are bare & it is to be expected as you are responsible for finish cleaning but this obviously should not be the case with a complete head assembly.

Just my thoughts :D

Here is an update on what I have done with my heads since orginally posting. I decieded to take the heads completly apart to ensured I got a good cleaning throughout the head. You will be amazed at what I have found. Let me say that before I decieded to take the heads apart I did clean them at the local car wash and blowed compressed air through all passages. I found some metal pieces caught underneath the guideplates and in the stud holes, Yes, they installed the studs and did not clean the residue out of the holes.
As you look at the pictures below i'm not bashing AFR, but just warning other that they need to take their heads apart and do their own cleaning.
Just imagine if these metal particles would have found its way to my rotating assembly.
BTW: Better buy them Wonder Magnets to catch any foreign material just as additional insurance.
Here are some picture of the Large Metal pieces that was taken out of my heads during disassembly.
Metal Shaving (http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dtl5042002/detail?.dir=/bb93&.dnm=12d1.jpg)

Did AFR assemble your heads? Or did the company you bought them from do the job?

Those look like some ridiculously large shavings for "assembled" heads.

Originally posted by RegaMaro:
Did AFR assemble your heads? Or did the company you bought them from do the job?

Those look like some ridiculously large shavings for "assembled" heads. These heads was assemble and shipped straight from AFR to my door.

These heads was assemble and shipped straight from AFR to my door. Sry to hear that. I'm having my delivered assembled stright from AFR as well. I'll be sure to do a full resassembly/cleaning on mine as well when I get them. Hopefully I'll get WolfPlace's luck and they'll be clean since he hooked me up with them ;)