sodium valves

2 valve cars had them
4 valve didn't

To the best of my knowledge

 

Is the consensus that sodium valves should be replaced with SS?

Say for instance, on my 1977 GTB?



Greg

 

I have a 79, and I'm not worrying about it.

 

Hi Greg,
Go to the 206/246 section and scroll down to the discussions on the sodium filled valves (you could also just search for "sodium" or "sodium valves"). The testimonials are amazing and the pictures will give you pause. Granted, there are some owners of cars with original engines who have not experienced the madding sound created by the departure of a valve head from its stem! they are most fortunate.
I don't know when the factory discontinued use of the hollow-stem exhaust valves; I understand that they were installed in all 206/246 Dinos and 'early' 308s. Though I'm more familiar with the the plight of V-6 Dino owners, I have read of catastrophic exhaust valve failure on early V-8s, too.
It's certainly worth checking into as you could be rolling the dice every time you start your engine.
Good luck & keep us posted.
Coop

 

will do, thanks...

 

I think it really depends on how hard you run your car. If you drive it pretty easy it may not be an issue. I have some pics on my site of one that came apart trying to catch a Viper... it's ugly. Check out www.FerrariPerformance.com

 

I had one let go at around 8000rpms shifting from 2nd to 3rd. My 79 was a daily driver, and it destroyed the cylinder, head, and rod. Plus it beat the crap out of the cylinder seal land, and the crank. It also distroyed the cylinder across from the one that blew. I do not think a grenade itself could have done more damage.

I replaced the engine with a used one which came out of a burned 308. when I pulled the heads to have them reworked FIVE (5) exhaust valves had popped off as a result of the fire!!!! (I did not rebuild the bottom end as it was unharmed).

I say that if all is well, you do not drive it hard (anything above 6000 rpms) AND you do not have ANY overheating problems you will be fairly safe. But, when does that happen?

It is not cheap to change them, and the heads are a bear to get off. they will however come off in the car. But, it is not cheap if one breaks either.

I now have SS valves.

Dan