2V Nightmare - dropping a valve..

Mine (75 308gt4) dropped an exhaust valve early in it's life and the local ferrari dealer fixed it and replaced with ss valves. I have the records to proove it. I don't believe this is a negative when it comes to resale. I view it as a positive to know that this work was done and done properly on both heads. I don't have to worry about it.

I don't know the circumstances under which mine dropped but I know the mileage must've been low...just don't recall right now. I don't think there is a consensus but for me if I was planning on a rebuild at any time in the next 3-4 yrs I'd just do it now, borrow the dough if not on hand and pay it back. Think of the interest as cheap insurance. As for the "while we're in there's" I'm not a born again purist but frankly I'm delighted the way the car runs stock (the way the factory intended) so the hot rodding doesn't appeal to me.

 

Bottom line, it's all a crapshoot!

 

Good day Edwardo,

I do not know if these guys are the cheapest, but do make SS valves for Ferraris...

http://www.sivalves.com/ocforeign_valvessp_fer.html

When I called them some time ago, I remember the price to be quite reasonable ($25 /valve ?... Sadly, I can't remember and I can't find the price in my notes...)

Cheers,

Sam

 

Sam,

Bless you,
May Enzo's gosta, vizita youra dreams,,, and let you drive-aaaa.

SiValves,,,

There phone number is in my area code.... (805) 582-00852

ha ha

Edwardo
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Thats one of the few mods that excite me so much I cant resist it. If I had the cash it would be a total no brainer.

 

My 79 had the valve failure. distroyed the cylinder (grenaded actually), head, and damaged the cylinder seal land. I bought another carb'd engine from a burned car. When I pulled the heads on the engine I bought to perform the head work there were at least 5 broken exhaust valves. the engine was obviously running when the fire happened. My car had overheating problems leading up to the valve failure, and the burned engine obviously got hot on the top end during the fire. I only did the head work and dropped the engine in without going through the bottom end. Runs fine.

I believe that heat is a major cause of these valves failing. if you have a history with your car of overheating, I would look at replacing the valves. If you are not sure and you don't want to have to worry about the valves when you are tracking, or just driving the car hard, then replace the valves.

As a side note. I had a machining issue and one of my forward cams siezed in the head just after initial startup. this caused the belt to strip and bent the valves. I had to remove the heads again and correct the machining issue (machinist did not perform some of the work I requested. I told him the heads came out of a burned car and I wanted him to varify that the cams had the correct clearance. he said he did, but he apparently did not. the heat closed the cam mains and reduced the clearance. thus resulting in the cam siezure). I was able to remove both the forward head and the rear head in the car. although this is possible, when I originally tried to remove the original engines heads (out of the car of course), I literally spent several days, and lots of hammer time to do so. plan to remove the engine.


Dan

 

for those in need.....how about a group buy of s/s valves from Lothian i have the intakes i bought of him.......... they seem to be the duks nuts

 

If he can beat $ 25.00 for each valve,,, and $ 9.00 for the guides ,,

,
,
, then I'm in, , like a chicken dinner!

8 intake
8 ehx.
16 guides
+ ______
$ 544.00 is the price to beat!

Edwardo
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I happened to be in the vicinity when a valve was dropped (by a mint, low milage, known history car). Happened on startup and the opinion of the experts present (it was an FCA run) was that startup was the most likely time for the problem to happen (hot gases on cold metal?).

 

Ciao Edwardo,

Prego!

You are very welcome! I am glad that I could assist!

Cheers,

Sam

 

All this talk about 7500rpm redline and broken valves in 2v motors is new stuff to me. "back in the day" we used to run our cars all day long at the track and I personally held the motor at 9,000 on many occasions and never saw a problem (with mine or with others). We were doing FCA events at least three times each year and I don't recall one case of valves breaking. In fact the 308s and QVs were the most reliable of all the cars flogged during the events. Fifteen years later I'm still driving the car on the street and other than belt and oil changes, she's fine. I'm just amazed to hear about all this stuff.

PS; 20 years ago I did an Aston Martin DB5 motor and used Manley SS valves from a BB Chevy. They were $21.00 each back then and the Aston valves were $48. This in 1986 dollars!