questions about pi heads
10-28-2013, 02:24 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Posts: 22
questions about pi heads
alright doing some work on my upper engine over the winter and as i have tore down to the heads now i'm noticing they look like absolute crap my poor engine has apparently had a long hard 86k miles put on her my question is should i take them off and have them ported and pollished and shaved or should i buy new pi heads and just have them shaved or is there a better head because ive been looking around and haven't been able to find much more than pi heads and i think i found one on ebay that was a mmr stage 2 or something along that line but they were pretty pricy and i would like to have a day off sometime this year lol. any help would be appreciated
10-28-2013, 06:42 PM
#4
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: California
Posts: 102
The PI heads in stock form aren't too bad, American Muscle has new ones including the cams for around $470. each. If you're current heads and cams are in good enough condition to be rebuilt it might be cheaper to do that but if they've been abused bad the news ones might be a cheaper way to go.
10-29-2013, 07:24 AM
#5
10-29-2013, 07:06 PM
#8
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PA
Posts: 556
If you already have the heads off the motor, assessing the condition of them is not that hard. Remove the valve spring and seal, check the play (wiggle) in the valve guide, (grab the end of the valve stem and try to move it sideways) if you are creative you may be able to measure the movement with a dial indicator. Anyhow you shouldn't be able to move it too much if at all. Although you can get away with a little wear
You can also use bluing on the valve and seat and check the contact area, then check the cam journals for clearance and out of round. if all of those things are good Clean them up and use them. You can replace valve springs pretty cheap. Just my opinion
You can also use bluing on the valve and seat and check the contact area, then check the cam journals for clearance and out of round. if all of those things are good Clean them up and use them. You can replace valve springs pretty cheap. Just my opinion
11-02-2013, 11:51 PM
#10
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Washington
Posts: 4
Head work at a machine shop will cost almost the same as Trick Flow heads. I know, I just had my done. It was $900 bucks for cleaning, installing SS valves, and heavier springs. To port them it would have been another $250.