Just wanting to get some advice from you guys

[Positively Ralf]

As you guys know I had asked about the 2bbl conversion on the head and I am going to try to remove the head from the motor next week(hope everything goes well!). The motor has 48,000 miles. Seeing as that is not many miles, should I bother with a rebuild kit at all or should I just have it freshened up with a valve job instead?

Will the possibility of adding a better cam(a most likely definite) determine the result of what to do with the head or is it still up to me to make the decision? Again, some advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Ralf:

I don't remember the details of you car, so I'm doing a little guessing here. If you're going to add a performance cam at some point in the future I'd suggest that you add a little more CR while you're getting this head done. A performance cam will cause you to lose a little low end torque, lower cylinder pressures and allow you to safely run a little more CR to make up for it. If your block is in good shape now, do the head and do the block later. You'll be out another set of gaskets, but that's about all.

Performance valve job-
*At least a three angle valve job
*Add a back cut to the intake valves
*smooth and polish the combustion chambers
*mill to compensate for composite head gasket and to attain goal CR.
*thoroughly clean the rocker arm assembly.
*Be sure to replace the valve stem seals too.
*machine for the two barrel conversion.

If you're planning to fit a port divider, this is the time and have it welded into place.

You're in for a pleasant surprise when you're done. Enjoy!!!!

Adios, David

 

[Positively Ralf]

Hey hey CZLN6,

My car is a bone stock 74 Maverick. I plan on removing the head and sending it off to CI and Mike for the refreshing of the head. I will take your advice then and leave the cam for another time and do more towards the head then. I'll ask the guys at CI to do that performance valve job while I work on getting some ideas together for the exhaust. Thanks!

 

[rbohm]

A performance cam will cause you to lose a little low end torque, lower cylinder pressures and allow you to safely run a little more CR to make up for it.

8) this is the only statement david made that i will dispute. it really depends on the cam specs that you choose as to whether you can increase compression safely or not. remember that wide lobe centers decrease valve overlap and trick the engine into thinking it has more compression than it really does. it is one of the neat little tricks us racers have used in various situations where compression ratios are limited by rule, but we want more power in certain rpm bands, or more power overall.

i would say that as long as your short block is in good condition overall, and since you are sending out the head for work, now would be a good time to swap cams as well. dont forget to install a new timing chain set as well, just cheap insurance against possible failure down the road. if you have the 200 use classicinlines roller chain.