I took my heads 461 off to change the gasket for a better quench while I had the engine apart doing a cam change. I wore cam lobe #6 intake & Lifter and want the satisfaction that everything will work well when I put it back together. I was thinking about changing the valves seals since I had some smoke on idle. These heads was rebuilt about 11 years ago but did not get put into use until this summer. I dont want to invest a lot of money into this because im building a SBC 400 for next year. But I want this 283 little engine to run good without the little smoke. I can rent the spring compressor from Autozone and take the valves apart to inspect and check some clearances. But how about the pressure checking, will I have to take it to a machine shop to get this done or do we have a garage method? Any thing else that I can do since I have them off the car.

Pressure checking is for aluminum heads. A vacuum check will tell you if the valves are sealing. Not perfect but the best I know of short of disassembly. BillK might have more to say.

Pat
Maybe I worded the question wrong or was not very clear. I would like to know how can I measure valve spring pressure to check for coil bind and pressure capability of these spring for my cam. I just installed a 204/214 420/442 110 lsa. This springs that I have look like single stock springs. I was plan on taking the springs apart and change the valve stem seals.

I must have read that wrong...
You have a 283 that you are running a 202/160 valved head on?
Is that right?

I guess I misread. AFAIK, there is no way to test the spring pressure without a spring tester. However, with the cam you're planning on, stock springs will work fine. If you're concerned that they may be worn out, replacement springs are cheap. In fact, Pioneer Z28 springs are in the $30-40 range but they might be overkill with about 110# seat pressure. Stock springs are about 80# and will do the job. The extra, unneeded seat pressure of the Z28 spring will add wear to the cam and cost you power. You can check coil bind in a bench vise. I run that cam (on a 112 LSA) in my driver. I ran it for several years with stock springs and 1.6 rockers before going to SR Torquer heads.

Originally posted by thrasher:
I must have read that wrong...
You have a 283 that you are running a 202/160 valved head on?
Is that right? Thats Correct and I dont have ANY pistons to valve clearamce problems. Now be advise that its bored .080. wanted to make it out of a 302, but machine shop did not want take a chance going that far with such an old block.

There is a spring checker that hooks to the rocker stud. You can check the seat pressure with one. If you want to really check the springs out, you will probably have to take the springs off and to the machine shop. They usually have a spring tester that can check coil bind height, open and seat pressures.

I would be inclined to think that it might run better with 194/150 Feulers.Unless you have one SERIOUS CAM.