As the topic says, the machinist I have my '73 head at was cutting my 1.70"/1.44" valve seats and hit the water jacket. Has anybody run into this before and how easy (costly) is it to fix?

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'66 Dodge Dart

I would think it should cost you nothing as he being a qualified tradesman broke it, and should cover costs to fix it.

My understanding is that people just get a new head, but I am sure something can be done.

Assume costly.

Putting a seat in for a 1.7 valve is always a crapshoot. If you're into water in the seat area it's probably new head time.

Hopefully you were just having the seats roughed in before you did any porting.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

I told them to cut the seats first but I guess they decided to put new guides in first... I'd like to start again with a new head, but its getting hard to find the 2843169 casting in the local yards (would like to keep the spark plug tubes, I know...) just to take another gamble

From what the machinist said they visibly hit the jacket in two places in the middle of the head (cylinders 3 and 4). I guess I'll know more after they asses if it can be welded and how much that would cost.

Its so sad and frustrating all at the same time... I guess I can pick up a peanut head from the local yard, think I'll have better luck with that?

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'66 Dodge Dart

Not meaning to pour salt into the wound, but don't you really only need hardened valve seats for the exhaust valves?

And just enlarge the intakes slightly........

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

That's beyond my skill-set. But I'll try not to loose sleep over it. I should know more this week and I'll probably end up pulling another head (suggestions for casting with most meat in the seats).

Anyone have advice? If the machinist offers to have the head welded would that cause issues down the road? Has anybody been in this spot before that can offer some tips on how to go about this.

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'66 Dodge Dart

I would not accept a welded head. It's too hard to get right.

You have to do valve guides before the seats to keep the valve and seat concentric.

Did they hit water on the intake valve seats? You need to use a narrow exhaust valve seat insert. You do not need an intake insert unless the head was seriously damaged.

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Joshua

Yeah, welding a cast iron head is just asking for more trouble. Too many people give those engines away to take a gamble trying to repair it at this point. I'd keep looking for another head. As has already been said, seats aren't needed for the intakes unless the original seat is beat up too bad to not clean up with o/s valves.

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There's no such thing as too much cam....only not enough engine!