How much oil?

[TT Tim]

I'm in the process of changing the valve stem seals on my 4.2.

It's the first time I've taken the rocker covers off and was surprised by the volume of oil in the top of the head. It's virtually level with the top of the head.

Is this normal or is something not right? It's probabally just me being paranoid!

Thanks

Tim

[jbvipercerb]

They do have quite a bit of oil left in the head. If you look into the oil puddles there are some hollow grub screws these are the drain plugs which control the oil levels next to the follower buckets, the oil should be just over the edge of the buckets.

[longbow]

I thought these were the oil feed holes, and that the oil simply spilled over into each valve 'pocket' until at the very back, it drains back down to the sump 'waterall' style??

[jbvipercerb]

Oh yes sorry about that. I should have known that, I've just been looking at it at weekend what a dick!
Ahem, yes oil level is controlled by back of the cylinder head drain off.














Thats what I've heard anyway

[TT Tim]

Thanks Guys,

I read this forum just about every day, and have done for a few years, and it never ceases to amaze me that you can learn something new each and every day.

Now, all I need is the spring compressor - where's that bl**dy courier?

Tim

[longbow]

Good luck Tim! I take it you are starting your strip/rebuild then? Right, spring compressor......... I tried to do this myself with a spring compressor but couldn't make the thing compress at all by hand, the valves use double springs and they are each quite substantial at that. In the end, the machine shop used a pneumatic spring compressor to get the job done.

[TT Tim]

Thanks for the advice Windsor,

I've removed the valves from a couple of AJP heads already, without too much problem, the trick, I found, is to smack the valve top seats with a socket and hammer before releasing them to free the collets, but these heads were off the car.

I'm doing a 'patch up' job at the moment on my existing engine to see me through the next few rounds of the Sprint Championship, and as such am changing the valve stem seals with the heads in situ!

Because of the above I needed a different type of spring compressor - will let you know tomorrow if it works, as it arrived at 4pm!

ATB

Tim