MTFCA Forum

What can I tell by the color of these valves? The cylinders look/feel great.

Look about right to me.

They don't look bad to me. I don't know if this spark plug info helps any. I remember charts like that in the 60s. They didn't help me much. Someone who sees these things all the time under varying conditions might know.
Rich

The little indented areas on the valve top tell you they are original valves that were made in two separate pieces, and the tops were stamped in to attach the mushroom to the stem, using those two holes for that purpose.

J1MGOLDEN wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:06 pm

The little indented areas on the valve top tell you they are original valves that were made in two separate pieces, and the tops were stamped in to attach the mushroom to the stem, using those two holes for that purpose.

To add to Jim's observation, the original "two piece" valves should be replaced at your earliest convenience as they are prone to become two-piece valves once again. In other words, the heads like to break off and ruin engines.

By the way, the color looks very normal.

No,
one can't tell if they are two piece valves by the two dimples in the top unless you can see they are cast iron heads, a lot of replacement one piece valves had the dimples for grinding the valves right up into the 1970's+, lifting the valve or looking in the port will tell you.

Kerry wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:31 pm

No,
one can't tell if they are two piece valves by the two dimples in the top unless you can see they are cast iron heads, a lot of replacement one piece valves had the dimples for grinding the valves right up into the 1970's+, lifting the valve or looking in the port will tell you.

On a couple of those valves, I'm pretty sure I can spot on the top surface of their heads, where the stem is peened. But, you're correct, the only way to be certain is to look into the ports, at the under side of the valve, and look for the pronounced shoulder. Thanks for pointing that out.

Thank you all.

You asked about the color of the valves. They look about right to me. The exhaust valves run hotter than the intake, so most of the carbon will be burnt off the exhaust valves.
Norm