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Registered
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 666
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Valve Guide Material.....Has anyone been back in afterwards?
OK, I have read a ton of threads about valve guide material. Seems to fall in to two camps. Phosphor-bronze and manganese bronze. I know Steve W likes the phosphor style and he also hones the guides which leaves a much better finish than the tearing action of a reamer in bronze.
I would be curious to hear from those that have been back in their motors after a valve job (perhaps for some other reason) and inspected the valve guide clearance with any other guide than stock. I suspect, either guide is way better than stock but I am curious if enough miles have been logged to determine the outcome of the different materials. So, if you have actually changed your guides, run them and inspected them at a later date or, if you changed your guides and now have a high mileage engine, lets hear the material used and results........I'm quite curious......(and I have a top end to do soon)
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Paul S "Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it" |
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11-22-2007, 06:30 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Calabasas, California
Posts: 828
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Can't add to that aspect. But, I did have to go back in because of poor running, and they found that the guides were too long, sticking out too far, causing the valve stem to bottom out into the guide before the seats! Obviously didn't make for much of a seal.
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11-23-2007, 12:52 PM
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abit off center
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Depends on what engine they are going in. There is always a trade off, do you want good heat transfer or good wear, you can use one type for intake and another for exhaust too.
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______________________ Craig G2Performance Twinplug, head work, case savers, rockers arms, etc. |
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11-23-2007, 01:13 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 666
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Yep, totally aware of the different materials and the "theoretical" benefits of each. It just doesn't always pan out the way it should. For instance, when the bronze guides came out many years ago and people started using them in small block Chevy's, they found out that despite bronze guides being set up tighter, they still wouldn't last nearly as long as a good old cast iron guide. Same here, many choices but what REALLY works? Longevity would be the key for most of us. Hell, most of the Harleys use cast iron...go figure
What I am hoping for here is real data or observations from engines that have been torn down after some good mileage with a guide other than stock. In my case a 3.6 Waiting for more responses.....
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Paul S "Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it" Last edited by 84toy; 11-23-2007 at 02:48 PM.. |
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11-23-2007, 02:45 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 696
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Beryllium Copper Alloy would probably be the best valve guide material although expensive. See this site for details:
http://www.delwestusa.com/manufactured/valve_guides.asp Notice not too many shops push this alloy because they don't know about it or the cost, but if you want it to last what else is there? |
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11-23-2007, 03:13 PM
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1969 and 1986 Porsche Targa and Coupe 1720cc and 3
