Cylinder head assembly

Main components of cylinder

head
 Cylinder Heads

 Purpose – regulates the air/fuel in/out of

the engine
 Construction
 Cast Iron

 Cast Aluminum

 Overhead valve heads incorporate:

 Valves @ related components

 Coolant passages

 Valve operation mechanism(s)

Hemi Head
 Cylinder Heads

 Cross flow head

design – the
practice of
placing the intake
port and the
exhaust port on
opposite sides of
the cylinder
head.
 Traditional Arrangement

 Traditionally,
combustion
chambers
would have
one exhaust
valve and one
intake valve.
 Multiple Valves
 Four valves
per cylinder –
two exhaust
and two
intake valves.
 Pentroof
design – each
pair of valves
are inline
 Blown Head Gasket

 Cylinder Head Removal

 All aluminum
cylinder heads
should be
removed with a
reverse torque
procedure.
 Cylinder Head Resurfacing

 Heads should be
checked in five places
for warpage,
distortion, bends or
twists.

 Check manufacturers
specifications,
maximum tolerances
usually around .004”.
 Valve Guides
 The “bore” in the
cylinder head that
supports and controls
lateral valve
movement.
 Often integral on

cast iron heads

 Always an insert on

aluminum heads
 Valve Guide Wear
 Guides are
checked in 3
locations
 With a small-hole gauge
then measured with a
micrometer
 Or checked with a small
bore gauge
 Valve Stem Wear

 Measured with a
micrometer at
three separate
locations.
 Intake & Exhaust Valves

 Automotive
valves are
of a poppet
valve
design.
 Valve Materials

 Stainless steel
 May be aluminized to
prevent corrosion
 Aluminum
 Hardened valve tips and
faces
 Stellite (nickle, chromium
and tungsten) valve tips
and faces
 Stellite is non-

magnetic
 Valve Materials
 Sodium-filled – a hollow
stem filled with a metallic
sodium that turns to liquid
when hot (heat
dissipation).
 Exhaust valves are largely
comprised of a chromium
material (anti-oxidant) with
nickel, manganese and
nitrogen added.
 May be heat-treated

 May be of a two-piece
design
 Valve Seats

 Integral seats – cast

iron heads – induction-
hardened to prevent
wear
 Valve seat inserts –
typically aluminum
heads – hardened seats
are pressed into the
heads
 Valve Inspection
 Valve tips should not
be mushroomed
 Most valve damage is
due to excessive heat
or is debris “forged”.
 Replace any valve that
appears Burnt
 Cracked
 Stressed
 Necked
Valve Springs
 A spring “winds-up” as it is
compressed – this causes the
valve to rotate.
 May have inside dampers to
control vibration.
 Springs are camshaft specific.
 Squareness (+ (-) .060)

 Spring free height (+ (-) .060)

 Compressed force (+ (-) 10%)

 Valve open height

 Valve closed height

Valve Spring Tester
 Valve Reconditioning

 The stem is lightly chamfered to

insure proper fit in the valve
grinder.
 The face of the valve is reground
using a valve grinder. (45 or 30
degrees typical).
 Interference angle – the practice
of grinding the face 1degree less
than the seat angle.
 The valve must retain its
“margin” area.
 the stem should be ground ½
the value that the face was
ground with nonadjustable
rockers.
 Valve Lapping
 The use of valve
compound and a
suction cup stick to
establish a pattern
 May be done to
“freshen” the seat
and face areas
 Valve Lapping
 The use of valve
compound and a suction
cup stick to establish a
pattern
 May be done to
“freshen” the seat and
face areas
 Also used to check the
contact pattern while
cutting valve seats
All compound must be
removed prior to
service
 Valve Seals
 Valve Seals are designed
to allow sufficient
lubrication of the valve
stem/guide and also
control oil consumption.
 Umbrella seals – hold

tightly onto the valve

stem
 Positive valve stem

seals – hold tightly

onto the guide
 O-rings – controls oil

between the spring and

retainer
Camshafts
Camshaft
The camshaft rotates ½ times the
crankshaft – or –
once per four-cycle stroke.
 The camshaft may operate the:
 Valve train
 Mechanical fuel pump
 Oil pump
 Distributor
 Overhead Camshafts
 Overhead
camshafts are
either belt or
chain driven
and are located
in the cylinder
heads.
Camshaft Followers
Rocker Arms
The fuel pump
plunger rides on the
camshaft eccentric.
 Hydraulic flat-tappet

Camshaft “break-in”
 The lobes of the cam and the bottom of the
lifters must be coated with a molydisulfide
lubricant often called “cam lube”.
 This insures that the cam is properly
lubricated during “break-in”.