I haven't posted to the forum for quite awhile, but was very interested
in this thread. In 1980 I worked at the Bug Haus in Seattle where one
could buy a 1600 dual port long block for $369.00 exchange. We sold
over 365 engines a year, and each one of them had sodium filled exhaust
valves, three angle valve grinds, and the valves HAD to rotate in the
guides, which were a bronze/silicone alloy. My job was to pull the
engine, dismantle and inspect it, clean all the parts, sandblast the
heads, intake valves and valve covers, press out the valve guides,
paint the engine tin and valve covers. The owners did the easy work-
one assembled the rebuilds, and the other did all the machining. If one
of them was absent, then I got to cover for them. My favorite job was
running the mill machine, especially fly-cutting heads, but I learned
the most about physics from grinding the valves and seats. Heat
transfer is the key to long-lasting heads, and the grind and rotation
of the valves are the key to heat transfer. I had to throw in my two
cents, as reading this thread brought back good memories. Have fun,
Neal
Neal Barrentine
Bloomington, Indiana
1986 GL
1960 Baja Bug