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L67 heads, need advice.

88formula

New member
I am in the process of disassembling my heads to clean, do a mild hand P&P, and install new parts with my XP cam. There was nothing wrong with them before, the motor has 30k original miles on it, and had excellent compression before disassemble. I have an XP cam, with #105 springs, titanium retainers, comp cams valve locks, valve stem seals, also a new OEM timing chain and dampener on the way. I planned on reusing the stock rockers, valves, pushrods, and lifters. Is there anything I am forgetting? Also is re using the parts I mentioned advisable when going with this setup? Thanks for any advise or input!
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All the exhaust valves appear to be in the same condition, the first two pictures have been cleaned. The third shows the uncleaned valves, so should they be replaced? also any explanation as to why two of them are a completely different color compared to all the rest that are covered in carbon buildup? Could it be because maybe they were from the cylinders furthest from the EGR?
 
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yes, everything you plan to do is going to be fine,

Only things needing replaced:

Springs
Valve Seals
Retainers
Valve locks/keepers

Thanks, I have done a ton of reading and figured this was true, but always great to get a personal response to verify, this is my first time inside of a 3800, so I am kind of nervous building the motor in my basement. A ton more wires, sensors, etc than what I am used to. Although I have done basic motor builds on other GM platforms such as 350sbc's etc
 
when i did my lim gaskets, i laid the harness back in place, one injector plug landed right on the injector, i was like click, thank you. lol
 
Yeah thats what I tell my self, I did a complete reseal on my DD a 99 buick century with a 3100sfi, harness looks scary, but it does just fall into place. Oh and my harness is some what modified, as the motor was in a Fiero... so it isnt the prettiest harness out there, hoping when I put the motor back in I can do a really neat tuck job.
 


I would maybe get a quote on getting a valve job since you have it apart.. i had mine done along with a semi port job, chambers polished up a bit. I believe it made a huge difference in flow.
 
You might want new exhaust valves.

Depends how bad they are.
I did notice that the intake valves are perfect still and looks like new at the seals. The exhaust valve did have the slightest amount of markings on them where they would seal. I will post pics shortly to get opinions.
 
7F0343EC-0924-40A8-AA91-297312CD06B9-2636-00000352B8C5AA54.jpg

AE839D38-3726-4CB2-AE2F-DBA4B62243A8-2636-00000352B5F15951.jpg

9D888F37-96E5-4E7A-853F-D6E71289FAD4-2636-00000352B14619A7.jpg


All the exhaust valves appear to be in the same condition, the first two pictures have been cleaned. The third shows the uncleaned valves, any explanation as to why two of them are a completely different color compared to all the rest that are covered in carbon buildup? Could it be because maybe they were from the cylinders furthest from the EGR?
 


I ordered new stock size stainless steel exhaust valves today from ZZP, hopefully the weight difference in exhaust and intake valves won't be an issue, or I will have to upgrade the intake valves too even though they look to be in excellent condition. Also finished porting one port and bowl last night. Looks like this will be quite the process! Grabbing like 30 or 40 of our 80 grit tapered sanding bits when I leave work today lol
 


I had 47k original on mine... Had the valves re-seated and the heads cut, do it while you have it apart!

cost me $175 at local machine shop...

Oh, and do your port work before you get them machined, they clean em off really good :D
 
Yeah about cleaning them... I got pretty drunk last night while porting them (nothing better to do to pass the time)... Well I woke up not too long ago and checked them out. The port job looks good, but the problem is I had the great Idea to wash them in the dish washer like I did all my aluminum parts. They are now super clean and degreased, but entirely covered in a very light film of rust that I now have to deal with!
 
Yeah about cleaning them... I got pretty drunk last night while porting them (nothing better to do to pass the time)... Well I woke up not too long ago and checked them out. The port job looks good, but the problem is I had the great Idea to wash them in the dish washer like I did all my aluminum parts. They are now super clean and degreased, but entirely covered in a very light film of rust that I now have to deal with!

Lol. Have them soaked in parts cleaner, the rust will come right off.
 
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