Does anyone have a suggestion for cylinder head service? Looking for cleanup and check of spring pressures, valve guides etc. Also, may consider porting if they offer the service.
The only competent machine shop I have discovered so far in Texas is Texas Engine Machine in Llano. Ferrari is so far not really one of his specialties but he gets it as opposed to all the others I tried.
The guy we've been using forever threatens to never take another one after each job. Can't blame him, poor service and neglect make these builds a bugger.
I’ve been doing my own for a while now, unless a valve seat needs replacing. In the event of that I send the head totally stripped. Most machine shops have zero skills with their hydraulic spring compressors as they constantly scrape the walls the shim buckets ride in forcing more repairs, which they seem to always deny ever doing. Machine shop incompetence is just remarkable
Until Covid I was still sending it all back to California. Both shops I used decided it was time to retire during covid. My electrical rebuilder called it quits too shortly after. Every month more of the old time quality subcontractors retire. Makes it difficult and more expensive. I went to 3 local machine shops I was referred to. The quality of the work was child like and not at all what was specifically requested. I just sent out a recently rebuilt alternator for a 355. It was filled with aluminum spray paint.
Man you’re not kidding. I got sick of searching so I bought machine equipment from those retiring guys and the rest on eBay. Kwik way valve facer, old Sunnen valve cutting stuff, new carbide cutting blades. Vacuum tester etc. Done. Sounds like I should probably hire someone and train him up to knock these out all day…..
As far as porting QV heads, I don’t see it would make a huge difference with stock cams and an otherwise stock engine. Others who have more direct knowledge about these heads can likely comment a lot more clearly on this but it’s my understanding the QV heads flow pretty well out of the box. There’s a great shop called HeadGames motorworks in Princeton, WV. They do outstanding port work on heads such as these. Check them on Instagram too
The upshot of it all is the decreasing number that are left are realizing it and prices are going up. Part of the reason old 12s cost 6 figures for a good complete job.
Yes, its a turbo car. So not sure if porting would help or not. There are some good threads on porting and cams on the forum. If I recall correctly the 308 and 348 heads are the same casting but the 348 heads have better flow characteristics. I don't have any direct knowledge myself.
