Probably anything you get here is better.  One problem is with the keepers.  They are not QC’d well, and one machinist here says he grinds the mating surfaces because they often don’t fit tightly around the valve stem, leading to dropped valves eventually.

 

Stuart

 

From: John Rodgers [mailto:jrodgers113@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 8:56 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan; Vanagon mailing list
Subject: RE: Engine teardown - 2.1L WBX

 

OK, so German valves would be better? Is TRW a German valve, or some other. What sources are specifically German? How about valve guides and valve retainers or keepers?

John

On Jun 10, 2015 7:27 PM, "Stuart MacMillan" <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:

The heads are better than OEM, but the valves are junk. Have a machine shop replace them with German valves and fit them properly. These heads have destroyed a lot of freshly rebuilt engines when not upgraded, all good rebuilders do this now.  See http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=108

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Rodgers
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 5:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Engine teardown - 2.1L WBX

Very good to know. Will pass that info along!

John
On Jun 10, 2015 6:32 PM, "thewestyman" <zolo@foxinternet.net> wrote:

> The AMC heads have one fault; the valve keepers are loose on the stem,
> making in time to wear the stem grooves wider and eventually totally
> useless the valve.  It is worth taking at least a couple out to check
> if they are still the same lately.
> And if not, you would need to take them all out and grind off some of
> the keepers' flats, so they don't touch each other.
> Zoltan
>
> -----Original Message----- From: John Rodgers
> Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 3:10 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Engine teardown - 2.1L WBX
>
> In an earlier post I told of someone running my engine hot. Result:
> gotta have the engine rebuilt. Decided to go all the way with it - all
> new everything. Pushrods were bent indicating stuck valves from over heating.
> Both heads were cracked beyond any repair so all new AMC heads with
> new everything are going back on.
>
> Right now removal of two piston pins is a problem.  Any suggestions on
> that. The rebuilder is very good, but this one has him up a stump. I'm
> sure he will eventually succeed but any suggestions might be of
> benefit to speed matters along.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>