Looking for a shop to work on my heads

Tom Howland · #1 (**permalink**) 02-06-2015, 12:16 PM

Aluminum Dart head with one int. valve ground 120 thousands lower than the others. The ex. and int seats overlap so both seats need to be replaced. Both seats need to be reground and the short int. valve needs to be replaced. My engine builder has made to many other mistakes for me to go back to him. So I'm moving on. The two very good shops in Watsonville I know won't do the job because of the overlapping seats. I called Dart but they have a two month turnaround. I'm hoping to find someone in the bay area.

Thank you in advance

4pipes · #2 (**permalink**) 02-06-2015, 01:32 PM

Tom, call Tom Dillard at Campbell Auto Resoration and ask him that question.

cgwitt · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2015, 06:44 PM

Tom

410 B Longfellow Court Livermore, CA 94550
Phone (925) 449-3330
Fax (925) 449-3331
8:00am - 5:00pm PST
Monday thru Friday
I have used TOP of the HILL Performance Center very successfully. I had major suspension work done in addition to brakes and steering. While visiting the shop many times, I observed work being done on major engine components. The owner is a suburb technician and has been a straight shooter. Lots of weekender Cobras in the shop - racing ones too.
Chuck

redmt · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2015, 06:13 AM

Bell & Gaines in Modesto . There's some maybe as good, but none any better.

Steve1979 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-07-2015, 06:13 PM

Have you tried Gromm Racing in San Jose, 408-287-1301?

Tom Howland · #6 (**permalink**) 02-07-2015, 10:06 PM

No I haven't. I'll give them a call.

boblyon1 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-11-2015, 01:07 AM

Jerry from JNW Engine and Machine in Santa Rosa does head work for racing professionals. Might give him a call.
707-217-8070

RICK LAKE · #8 (**permalink**) 02-11-2015, 02:42 AM

Tom Howland Tom It sounds like alot of work to repair this head. Good thing is it's aluminum. Tig in alot of metal to build up the seat area and cut a new seat and install a valve seat. I would check the cost of a blank head and have the parts swapped over with just valve seats being machined to match the valve angles.
Joe B. is in Fresno and has more the 60 years of special work.

You might also save some money and find a guy who can tig and fill in the area. This is a special skill. when done right, last a life time, when not Junk city.

IMO replace the head and swap over the parts. Down the road you might find someone who would be happy to repair it or even Dart. This way you have a spare head if needed and don't loss time for driving season. Just a thought. Rick L.

marcw · #9 (**permalink**) 02-11-2015, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Howland

Aluminum Dart head with one int. valve ground 120 thousands lower than the others. The ex. and int seats overlap so both seats need to be replaced. Both seats need to be reground and the short int. valve needs to be replaced. My engine builder has made to many other mistakes for me to go back to him. So I'm moving on. The two very good shops in Watsonville I know won't do the job because of the overlapping seats. I called Dart but they have a two month turnaround. I'm hoping to find someone in the bay area.

Thank you in advance

Call Steve at Panavia , San Jose

Tom Howland · #10 (**permalink**) 02-12-2015, 08:04 AM

Once again no one wanted to do it. The third referral from Top Of The Hill (he doesn't do in house machining) got me to American Cylinder Head in Oakland. Great shop. They have no problem replacing the seats. The owner did a vacuum test on each valve and noticed a valve on the other head was a little leaky. He also saw from the imprint of the head gaskets that they were about to blow. So he will resurface both heads. He's going to tear them down, check everything, fix them, and reassemble them. I'm pleased. Thank you everyone for your help.