If you were to rebuild the heads, what are you choice in parts for items listed below. This engine (as of now) has no intention of seeing boost. As for now, will keep stock camshaft, maybe a 2030 later. Will be getting a mild home P&P.

Please list why you choose whatever.

1. Valve seals
2. Valves (stainless steel worth it?)
3. Rockers (1.52 vs 1.60)
4. Springs/Retainers
5. Head gaskets
6. Head Bolts


BTW, what all tools do I need to rebuild heads? Spring compressor, punch, hammer, whatelse?

 

valve seals, i used felpros i think, whatever came with my gasket kit. - why-just because
i have stock valves; just get a good valve job done on the of course. - why-didn't see the need
i'd go with 1.6 roller (tip atleast) - why-a tad more lift (use OEM stamped style and they fit but use your stock pivot *****)
springs, again, i used V8 Z28 springs - good for up to (i think) .550 lift and nice and stiff. if you do 1.6 rockers, make sure you change your springs! also, you may need to grind the spring seat for the v8 springs to clear the 'stem' on the heads, don't remember for sure.
retainers, i used stock ones.
headgaskets, i used felpro - seem to be great gaskets
head bolts; don't tell the parts store, i've reused my stock head bolts a couple of times and had no problems!

 

Gaskets/valve seals...Fel Pro
valves...stock
springs/locks/retainers...Comp Cams
rockers...stock, may upgrade to rollers later but didn't really need additional lift at the time (.470 now).
Head bolts are stock, but I'll go ARP next time its apart...when stripping down the 3.4, one of the head bolts broke off in the block! Real PITA to remove.

If the heads come back off in the next few months (likely), we're probably going to port them a little more extensively and go with larger valves if possible, and get a good performance valve job done. We're gradually finding new bottlenecks to HP in the car, through dyno testing, and after reworking the rest of the exhaust (2 1/4 compression bent tubing is killing the numbers...an open cutout gave about 14hp!), the heads will likely get some more attention. Wish someone made some nice aluminum ones...

 

Fel Pro seals

Stainless valves I bought have a 100% flat bottom , not dished like stock, raises compression
Also the stainless steel valves are swirl pilished and have undercut stems for more flow. Worth it? Yes.

1.6 roller tip (jamie from cat pep has 3 sets on ebay now for $35)

z 28 sbc valve springs , delete the factory gaurds , run the corresponding pressure rating recommended with whatever cam you end up running , the z28 spring comes in various seat pressures , and lift capacity.

Felpro gaskets , I run them under boost.

Felpro head bolt set. Just like stock are TTY , Torque to yeild , the stockers , throw them away. I use liquid teflon on my head bolts when sealing them , but I let the sealer set up a minumum of 48 hours.

 

ok, so standard felpro seals, and rings.

Normal head bolts.

Springs, I dont understand what your doing with the z28 springs. If its not pull one, replace with something else on them, I dont get it. Never messed with them before.

rockers may have to wait, unless 614 can give me a user name please PM it to me.

I "think" the SS valves I found were dished. Where did you get yours from 614?

 

fel pro for any seals or gaskets
manely for any valves better and often cheaper than oem replacements
k line for guides and shims
lunati or comp for springs, gm springs are junk and again there isn't much differance in price
retiners from lunati or comp. gm rotators are junk and add mass to the valve train
bolts reuse the stock pieces unless you have a real reason to up grade then use arp
rockers from comp either roller tip or full trunion rollers. aluminum are heavier and don't last as long

 

Thanks for tips on advice.

Any other people?

 

I used vs380 Melling springs. Good for .490" lift, $16 for all 12 from Northern Auto Parts.