ianbott

Would a head shop strip the valves from a head before skimming?

Thanks for the advice, Ian.

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

All with the cams out all valves are closed and will be out of the way for skimming the head surface so no in most cases mate.

muttleyturbo

iTrader: (5)

Most shops will skim the head with the valves in place, I would recommend putting something Vaseline around the valves though to just make 100% sure everything is sealed in and no swarf get gets into the head.

TBH if I get a head skimmed i'll usually give it a overhaul anyway as it pretty much costs nothing to clean the valves, lap them back in and replace steam seals

ianbott

Thanks guys, took my heads to a local shop, taken them 8 weeks and they're trying to charge me £168 Inc VAT for the pleasure lol.
Was expecting around £70 ish but they claim they stripped the heads of the valves and cleaned it all up which is not what I asked them to do.
Hopefully get it sorted :-(

MOTORS S GT

iTrader: (2)

Any head that is skimmed wants stripping out, including oil gallery plugs, as the particles get everywhere, washing out & rebuilding.
What happens when you get engine failure a few weeks later, with the swarf from a corner cut bodge job, it happens, it only takes 15 mins to strip Subaru heads out, once removed, do it once & do it properly.

Antony@indigo-gt

iTrader: (2)

As said, to do it properly it needs to be fully cleaned out.

ianbott

Yeah I understand that, but the shop is telling me they don't usually strip the valves from the head which I find very strange, as you say it only take one stray swarf of metal to end your engine.
What do you guys think a reasonable price is for skimming a pair of heads? Whether or not that includes stripping the valves out?
Thanks guys :-)