what are the advantages of refurbing a head please?

[johnnyg]

as above

[uzdubmwe30]

By refurb you mean new valves, cams, cam carriers, tappets, valve stem oil seals or just an acid dip and put new valves back in?

Top end of the engine will be quieter, you'll possibly see a slight increase in performance and economy.

Ive just had my old vavles re lapped in, decoke, acid dip, new oil seals, pressure check and skim done.

[johnnyg]

so what do you mean by an acid dip and were you able to do any of that work yourself?

sorry for my ignorance

[johnnyg]

What is involved with an acid dip and what are the advantages please

thanks

[Gortour]

Thread edited... Same benefits whatever head.

[uzdubmwe30]

Acid dip removes the impurities on the inlet tracts, and prepares the cylinder face better for a reskim. Just basically a damn good wash.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

m40 with camshaft delete option!

Worth doing. The head on my family bus was refurbed 25k ago. Made for good figures on the rollers in spite of an air leak.

[johnnyg]

does anybody know how much it would cost to refurb the head

cheers
johnny

[march109]

If you go balls to the wall you cold easily break £1000

[johnnyg]

that much - you would be better off getting a new engine


so what would you get for £1000 march

cheers

johnny

[march109]

Well:
inlet ports opened up slightly.
pressure tested and crack tested.
skim,
new guides, valves
chemicaly cleaned
new alu rockers
highlift cam
stiffened valve springs
new shafts
new rocker cover gasket
new head bolts
new head gasket

Probably wouldn't come too far off £1000, you could probably refresh the head to stock using the old rockers/shafts/springs ect, with no new cam nor some of the other work for £250/£300.

[johnnyg]

you are a gent march

would refreshing the head be a good option - if you didnt have a £1000 to spend - for me i think the £300 mark would be as far as i could stretch - do you think it would be worth doing it - would there be any guarantee of seeing an improvement in driveability, performance and economy sorry for the long question

cheers

johnny

[march109]

you are a gent march

would refreshing the head be a good option - if you didnt have a £1000 to spend - for me i think the £300 mark would be as far as i could stretch - do you think it would be worth doing it - would there be any guarantee of seeing an improvement in driveability, performance and economy sorry for the long question

cheers

johnny

Only you can judge that, if the car feels tight and makes stock power now then there is probably no point doing it, though if its done you know the head is good for another 100,000 miles or more.

Best save your £300 incase the headgasket goes, then have it done.

[Onz]

spend the money changing bushes and bearings throughout the drivetrain so you dont lose as much power. That would probably be better spent.

[johnnyg]

thanks boys - some good advice i think

johnny

[uzdubmwe30]

Totally agree with march109 there bud,

If you want it done on a budget do the chain, sprockets, tensioner and guides that will make it feel alot tighter, Then get the valve stem oil seals done, valves relapped back in, acid dip, decoke, pressure check and a skim and do the head gasket. You'll see a significant improvement for just over £300.

I had my cyl head freshened up as to speak and it cost me £100 at mates rates. Then the guides, chain and sprockets will cost you around £150 - £200 and then the purchase cost and labour for the head gasket. Assuming your doing it yourself you could get it done for just shy of £400.

And you'll be good for another 60k plus.

Matt

[johnnyg]

thanks matt

its prob worth doing then - but first i really need someone to look over my motor as i this is my first e30 so am relatively in no mans land at the moment.

thanks

johnny

[JimmyC]

I am possibly selling a brand new complete head that I rebuilt last year- All inners brand new, and the head itself brand new- scared to look at the bills cost me a fortune £1k would have been a bargain

PM if your interested, selling to fund race entries its a 320 head not sure what yours is

As for the purpose of a rebuild, I did it to increase performance ie increase the compression