Thread: Valve Springs and Other stuff

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I am just tying to learn more indepth about technical specs. I bought me a set of heads for my FE 390 hot rod and they have high performance 1.440 valve springs installed on them. Does this number indicate how tall the springs?

Second question. The heads I bought have been vatted and steelabrated. What does this mean? Also they have under cut valve stems and a 3 angle valve job. I dont exactly know what that means.

I kinda feel a little imbarrased to ask these questions since I have been a grease monkey since I was 3 gofering with my dad and am now 21, but I guess its the best thing to do and the best place to do it at to learn.

Any info would be appreciated. Thanx,
Don

Sounds to me like you got a good set of heads! The valve spring determine how much lift you can throw at them. I know a stock SBC will only allow .499" lift. it you want .500 or larget you must change the springs or they will get over worked and will not close the valves.

those heads have heavier duty valve springs for a higher lift cam, the undercut valve stems just means that rockers are going to sit a little lower, in return you might end up having to get custom pushrods depending on how much of a change on the valve stems.... the tanked and steelabrated, i believe they're talking about hot tanking them and magnafluxing them.... making sure they're clean and have no cracks or damage.... pretty simple stuff really..... i'd look up some cams for your motor and find out what kind of spring specs they're asking for on cams, and push to whatever you can without reccomending eccesive valve relief pistons.... unless you really want to start spending a lot of money... the only problem i might see with going too big on a cam is an intake and carb to handle that kind of load

1.440" indicates the outside diameter of the valve spring. See the chart here on RPM springs for a Ford and you'll see the 1.440.
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/valvesprings.html

Vatted means they have been hot-tanked in a chemical solution to remove grunge and rust.

I have no idea what steel abraded means, but maybe we can figure it out......."abrade" is a verb meaning to wear or rub off; to grate off; abrasive, scouring......so maybe steel abrading means to further clean the heads with steel shot.....I don't know, I'm just guessing......

Undercut valve stems means that the diameter of the valve stem has been reduced in the port area so that it presents less restriction to the intake/exhaust charge, thus streamlining the port cross-section as it is seen by the charge. I couldn't find a good photo to show this, but look at the yellow valve shown on this Ferrea site and notice how the valve stem diameter reduces as it nears the head of the valve. It was not my intent to show you a hollow-stem valve to confuse you, just to show the reduced diameter of the valve stem.......
http://www.ferrea.com/

3-angle valve job means that the seat has been "rounded" so that the intake/exhaust mixture will flow more easily into and out of the combustion chamber. Rather than just cutting a 45 degree seat only, a top and bottom cut are added to help the charge make the turn into or out of the chamber. Here's a close-up photo showing a 3-angle seat. Some shops will do a 5-angle seat......
http://www.hanzenginehouse.com/HANZE...t_closeup.html

Hope this helps you.....

Listen to the 'Inspector.

I think the Steel abrated goes along with the plastic media blasting that was done on the heads. Most likely steel shot blasted along with the glass beading that was performed.
Thanx for your input.

Here is the write up sheet that I got from the guy I bought the heads from;

This set of "FE" cast iron heads that have been professionally rebuilt with stainless 2.090" Intake and 1.650" exhaust valves with swirl polished and undercut stems to increase flow

These 69cc heads are complete and include:

These heads have been vatted, magnafluxed checked for cracks, glassbeaded/steelabrated, tap bolt holes, new guides installed, both intake and head surface have been machined to ensure a good sealing surface
Install hardened exhaust seats for use with leaded or unleaded fuel
Blend bowls for 2.090"Int/1.650"Exh stainless swirl polished "Cobra Jet" size valves
Cut seats for 2.090" and 1.650" valves
Drill and install all new guides
3-angle valve job
Set up 1.440" high performance springs to handle up to .600" valve lift
These heads have the small intake ports
New Parts:

"Cobra Jet size" 2.090"Int/1.650"Exh stainless swirl polished valves with undercut stems to increase flow
New valve guides machined to clear high lift cam
High Performance 1.440" valve springs

What do you guys think???
Don