The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1949 216 odd valves

Just pulled the head off my '49 3600 216 with 46K miles. It seem to run pretty well but huge cloud of smoke until it warmed up. Then just a little smoke. Also no smoke on compression going down hill so I was guessing it need valve seals and maybe a valve job.

The head has cleaned up pretty well and is straight. But the valves look bad. Also some of them are flat and some cupped. Not intake one way and exhaust the other. All were very difficult to clean up and some have pits and they had lots of carbon on the mating surface. So I'm guessing someone put a handful of other brand valves at some point. Pistons had carbon but cylinder walls look great and almost no ridge.

Anyway it looks like I'll need to buy new valves. So my question is where should I buy them? Can I just seat them in with dual grit compound?

Thanks for the help. Larry

Valves are only one third of the equation. You also need to have properly-fitting valve guides, and the correct position and width of the valve seats. You'll also need to get the head magnafluxed to check for cracks. Doing a shade tree job after buying a whole set of valves would be a really bad decision. Bite the bullet and let a good machine shop do their thing.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry, I'll check out having the head done by a machine shop. Still seems odd to me that the valves don't match. Do you know are these value usually flat or cupped? The valve seals were still in place but they were pretty hard. However I removed them all without breaking any. They are just little rubber rings similar to o-rings. Do the new seals the same or more like a newer engine at the bottom of the spring? Larry

Those rubber O rings are supposed to prevent oil running down the valve stems and puddling on top of the guides. If you choose to use some type of umbrella-style seal, DO NOT double up and use the O rings as well. It's possible to get too much of a seal and wear the guides out from lack of lubrication.
Jerry

Larry ,

I'd be very leery of the quality of aftermarket valves .

IMO most of the stuff being sold is made in china junk .

My choice would be GM NOS parts for your valve job .

These parts can still be purchased NOS .

You can go to ebay & type in the part # in the search box .

Intake Valves - GM part # 3688760

I see GM NOS inlet valves on ebay .

Dan's GM Obsolete
Chinook , Montana
phone : 406 - 357 - 2615

Dan's has ( 15 ) GM NOS intake valves in stock .

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/HsF27qH1/Intake-Valves-GM-3688065.jpg


There are Exhaust Valves available on ebay .

Exhaust Valves - GM part # 3835318

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/MHMB6GnM/3835318-exhaust-valves.jpg

Dan's GM Obsolete has ( 8 ) exhaust valves in stock


Intake Valve Guides

GM part # 3688760

There are some on ebay

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/4y9KCF0p/Chev-216-Inlet-Valve-Guides-3688760.jpg


Exhaust Valve Guides

GM part # 3688761

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/BnspJd0S/Exhaust-Valve-Guides-GM-3688761.jpg

There are some on ebay

Dan's has ( 18 ) exhaust valve guides in stock


Valve guide Seals

GM # 3835333

There are some nos seals on ebay

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/HLnQxmPg/Valve-Seals-GM-NOS-3835333.jpg


You may want to consider new nos valve springs

They show up on ebay quite often .

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/wTkJQMCz/Chevy-216-6-Cylinder-Valve-Springs-GM-NOS.jpg

&

https://i.postimg.cc/Ls74v0gM/839304-216-valve-springs.jpg


You should check on the condition of the valve spring caps

GM part # 3835392

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/6qX2dxzT/Valve-Spring-Caps-GM-NOS.jpg


Valve Stem Locks

IMO they should be replaced .

PIC

https://i.postimg.cc/FFV12qDg/Valve-Stem-Key-Locks-GM-NOS.jpg


George
'54 3600

Stovebolt six exhaust valves are identical to the ones used in a lot of small block V8's. There's no point in paying outrageous prices to some resto-ripoff place for part number matching exhaust valves when stainless steel exhausts are a dime a dozen from lots of online suppliers. They're better quality and more durable than OEM valves, and they'll probably last as long as you own the truck. The intake valves are sort of oddball- - - -I don't know of a suitable work-around on them.
Jerry

Hey thanks again. I already found that NAPA has the intake for $21 while the exhaust are $7 each.