lapping valves

[86911TLCAB]

I lapped the valves onto the head, put on the springs. I checked the valves by spraying a bunch of carb cleaner in the hole and low and behold, only one leaked any of the carb cleaner. pulled it and relapped (even though as I pulled it I saw a small piece of carbon on the seat, which I bet was the reason it leaked). relapped and tested all good. Also tested with light and have no light coming through.

can I be pretty sure now that the valves are properly seated? anything else I should do to verify?

[Drscope]

Sounds like you are good to go.

If the seats were cut or the valves were ground, the thing you are looking for when lapping is a color change in the contact area of the valve that is uniform. If you still have shiny spots you need to keep lapping a little more.

[86911TLCAB]

Thanks. The seats were not cut or ground. But in this case I am not using the exact same hardware (valve/rockers etc) with the same valves and same position on the camshaft etc.

There is a uniform, dull gray finish all the way around the valve and the valve seat on each one...so sounds like I can proceed to put together the rest. hopefully be starting the car on wed...or Friday at the latest...

[ducatithunder]

Wd40 works well to to test. We test valves at work like this. Let them sit for a bit then check.

[86911TLCAB]

Thanks. Head is all back together...hopefully going back on today...