Engine Valves

[Lee(MN)]

Hello friends, new to this forum so be patient please , I am repairing a cylinder head for an early 1900’s IH Titan Famous 1 HP hopper cooled gas engine… The valves are beyond shot and one is broken, I found a place on line that offered parts but after a phone call they can no longer provide spares. So it’s either modify an existing valve or make a new pair from scratch, in either case I’m well tooled to do either!… So my question is this, if I make them from scratch what would be the best material to use ?, keep in mind this is a collector engine that will most likely never be ran under load and probably a couple times a year for not much time, not a Boss 302 Trans Am engine. Also carries an extremely low compression ratio. Would I be ok just making them from cold rolled steel ?….. Opinions welcome please.

Thanks, Lee

 

[oldbikedavey]

Hello friends, new to this forum so be patient please , I am repairing a cylinder head for an early 1900’s IH Titan Famous 1 HP hopper cooled gas engine… The valves are beyond shot and one is broken, I found a place on line that offered parts but after a phone call they can no longer provide spares. So it’s either modify an existing valve or make a new pair from scratch, in either case I’m well tooled to do either!… So my question is this, if I make them from scratch what would be the best material to use ?, keep in mind this is a collector engine that will most likely never be ran under load and probably a couple times a year for not much time, not a Boss 302 Trans Am engine. Also carries an extremely low compression ratio. Would I be ok just making them from cold rolled steel ?….. Opinions welcome please.

Thanks, Lee

If you have the dimensions of the valves, something can almost certainly be wangled, somewhere, somehow.
Head diameter and stem length are by far the most important, followed by stem diameter.
Don't try to make new valves yourself, as modifying others is vastly easier.
That, I know very well......

 

[Smallfry]

^^^^ What he said. There are motor factors and specialists who will have catalogues of replacement valves for just about everything ever made anywhere.

Must surely be able to match the head, length, and stem sizes, or near enough. Even if you do have to use Boss 302 collets (same as 351C) or similar.

 

[Lee(MN)]

Thank you for the prompt reply’s…. The Boss 302 reference was a mild attempt at humor… I will o a bit of measuring and start searching for a suitable pair to modify.

Lee

 

[Matchless]

Thank you for the prompt reply’s…. The Boss 302 reference was a mild attempt at humor… I will o a bit of measuring and start searching for a suitable pair to modify.

Lee

Stem dia is first (provided your valve guides are good, I have been known to use 8mm in worn 5/16" guides after a ream out, so stem dia, then at least as long as you need, longer can be cut down, then head dia. must be at least as large as current, quite easy to reduce, find an old catalogue with sizes, or find and old school head shop!

 

[sako243]

@GRW might have access to a good list of valves and specs.

 

[minimutly]

GSC valves (Paul Ivey) used to have a massive downloadable list of valves and dimensions, in my experience motor factors do not, and the first question will be "what's the reg"..

 

[graffian]

G&S valves in Godalming used to know lots of sizes and were up for making valves to pattern from their own forgings.
Bound to find them online.

 

[tigdlo]

Mahle online cataloge allows you to search for valves based on various dimensions, inlet valves here, https://web.tecalliance.net/mahle-c...20brands%20and%20product%20groups;groups:1269 and exhaust valves, https://web.tecalliance.net/mahle-c...20brands%20and%20product%20groups;groups:1270

 

[oldbikedavey]

G&S valves in Godalming used to know lots of sizes and were up for making valves to pattern from their own forgings.
Bound to find them online.

Very , very good outfit indeed.
Highly recommended.

 

[oldbikedavey]

Thank you for the prompt reply’s…. The Boss 302 reference was a mild attempt at humor… I will o a bit of measuring and start searching for a suitable pair to modify.

Lee

Best to go for exhaust valve for both, as the material copes with both environments.
G & S Valves are the place to start looking.
You may need to produce spring collars and collets to suit, and possibly valve guides ( or have them lined ), but there shouldn't be too many stumbling blocks.....

 

[bricol]

Best to go for exhaust valve for both, as the material copes with both environments.
G & S Valves are the place to start looking.
You may need to produce spring collars and collets to suit, and possibly valve guides ( or have them lined ), but there shouldn't be too many stumbling blocks.....

Well, other than Minnesota is quite a long bus ride from Goldaming . . .

 

[oldbikedavey]

Well, other than Minnesota is quite a long bus ride from Goldaming . . .

It is, but culture shock is seldom easy to come by.

 

[GRW]

@GRW might have access to a good list of valves and specs.

It's true that even the Engine Parts Suppliers to where I work are now conditioned to want/need a Registration or Engine Code rather than work off dimensions.

To a degree you'd need someone who can look at it & go from experience "that's very much like the valve from an "X" engine" & go looking to match.
(I can look up lots of valve dims once I find a particular valve for an engine - but the systems aren't geared to do it the other way around).

Stem diameter, length, head size, face angle and collet/retainer groove are needed - though minor adjustments & machining could adapt something close (or fit Valve Seat Inserts & cut a new valve seat, and maybe fit a guide liner to adapt a head to fit a valve stem size are feasible "tweaks").

I'm as you know, not "the man" to provide more than generalities - but if a pretty close match can be identified you're in with a shout I think.

 

[8ob]

You could spend longer looking for and modifying something than starting from scratch, on something like this that only does one rpm I would have thought any material would do. 304 stainless is a common valve material.

Bob

 

[minimutly]

G&S valves in Godalming used to know lots of sizes and were up for making valves to pattern from their own forgings.
Bound to find them online.

Oops, of course I meant G&S, not GSC...