Should you expect a power gain from a valve job? - Honda Prelude Forum

Preyluder · 02-03-2004, 05:04 PM

I'm thinking about putting some of the money from my tax return into getting a valve job (possibly 5 angle, although I'm not familiar with the pros/cons in doing so) and new injectors. Should I expect ANY gains? Even if they're gas economy gains, that'd be nice I guess.

My questions are. 1) What are the benefits of a total valve job? 2) Should I get bigger injectors or stay with the factory cc injectors? I want new ones no matter what. I think mine are clogged for good. TIA.

SLICK96 · 02-03-2004, 07:19 PM

YOu can get your injectors cleaned at Pep Boys, for a decent price...40 bucks, I think I paid for mine. YOu can also send them to RC Engineering & get them cleaned out, they do other nice stuff too. I wouldn't get bigger injectors unless you've got some SERIOUS work done to your engine, i.e. a full-out head job, or forced induction. It really depends on what your plans are.

J

Preyluder · 02-03-2004, 08:30 PM

My plans are to get the stg. 2 crower cams when they come out. I think a valve job would at least make the engine burn/run cleaner. Does RC Engineering have a website? I've heard a little bit about them.

axion68 · 02-03-2004, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Preyluder
My plans are to get the stg. 2 crower cams when they come out. I think a valve job would at least make the engine burn/run cleaner. Does RC Engineering have a website? I've heard a little bit about them.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...RC+Engineering

Preyluder · 02-03-2004, 08:43 PM

Thanks man.

Anyone else have any comments on valve jobs?

MugenPoweredLude · 02-03-2004, 10:26 PM

one thing that will make or break a valve job and make or break any power gains.......
make sure you send it to a good errr porter(i forget the name of the dudes that do that stuff..its late..brain stopped functioning

)

send it to Portflow or the likes

ill be sending my head to these guys when i get some $$$ and downtime

http://www.rddyno.com/

SLICK96 · 02-04-2004, 12:25 AM

Also realize that if you send your head in for work during race season, expect to wait almost twice as long for the work to get done, b/c shops get swamped at that time. Now would be a good time to send your stuff in.

J

Preyluder · 02-05-2004, 05:27 PM

Yeah, I was thinking about doing it right now, and everything seemed to work out good today because I decided to buy my managers bad-ass '84 K5 Blazer. It's something to get around in the snow with that's for sure. It's huge as hell.

Vapor · 02-06-2004, 07:25 AM

So, you're going to pull the head, JUST for a valve job? I'd think that was a poor idea. JUST a valve job will do very little, and IMO, the differences in flow rates of a 5 angle vs. 3 angle valve job that I've seen are negligible, so I'd probably just get a 3 if anything.

If you KNEW you were going in a certain direction, and insisted on pulling the head off you want to make it worth your while. do any and all valvetrain work at once. valves, springs, any P&P, blending, deshrouding work and the like. But JUST a valve job? on an otherwise stock engine? kind of a waste by itself.

Preyluder · 02-06-2004, 05:25 PM

Really? See it's always been my thinking that valve jobs aren't really for power gains perse, rather they make the engine burn cleaner and run more efficient, especially considering my engine has over 130k now, plus, I don't have the money for a fully built head. I guess I could save for it all, but my engine is running a little poor right now, spitting and sputtering at times. Plus, it doesn't feel as fast as it used to and I thought a valve job would "spruce" it up, or rejuvenate it a little bit. I changed the fuel filter and that helped the sputtering problem A LOT (about 87 percent I'd say), but it still does it sometimes. I guess I could get new injectors and see where that takes me, but considering how hard I've ran my car, I get the feeling there's a hell of a lot carbon buildup inside the head. I guess I agree with you though.

SLICK96 · 02-07-2004, 07:34 PM

Dude, if you're going to take the time to pull the head, send it in for a valve job & then re-install...you obviously have the money for a VTEC head & other parts necessary for a headswap, which would probably net you gains in real HP...

J

Preyluder · 02-07-2004, 08:41 PM

I think a head swap would be a little more than a valve job, considering I can do everything myself besides cleaning the head up and machining the valves. I know a guy that could do it for me for really cheap, so... besides, I won't ever be trying a frankenstein swap. Too unpredictable...

Vapor · 02-07-2004, 10:16 PM

I highly doubt that enough of your issues are caused by poor valve seating to warrant a valve job all by itself. I think you're HIGHLY over estimating the purpose and effect of a valve job.

Preyluder · 02-08-2004, 09:20 AM

No, I'm fairly certain I know what happens with a valve job, I just think it'd be beneficial for my h23. It's starting to get old, and if I could tear apart the head, clean it up and get the valves machined (3 way), I think it'd run a lot better. Carbon deposits are our enemy. I'm sure my valves are seating fine. Maybe I'll wait to do it until I get the Crower cams, then I'll get it done all at once cuz Jason was right, I'm gonna eventually have to take it apart again if I don't.

Understand that my sputtering problem is not valve related, I know this. I need some new injectors, hell, maybe even a new fuel pump. But I have a pretty much entirely new ignition system (minus the coil), so I don't think there's a problem there, but I think a valve job would just put the icing on the cake so to speak once I get all the fuel related items replaced.

Vapor · 02-08-2004, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Preyluder
No, I'm fairly certain I know what happens with a valve job, I just think it'd be beneficial for my h23.

Didn't say you didn't know what it was, at least give me credit enough to read the post before you jump on the reply to argue. I said you are over estimating the effect, which by itself would be minor to negligable.

I'd have to be HIGHLY dedicated to keeping the H23 to open it up at all, much less open it JUST for a valve job.

Preyluder · 02-08-2004, 10:37 AM

I'll give you credit I guess. In the first post, I wanted to know the pros/cons of doing a valve job, but I already knew the basic benefits of doing one, I was referring to power gains, if any and so on. I was never arguing with you though, I don't know where you got that idea though.

Yeah, I'm pretty much in love with the h23. I've always rooted for the underdog.

Vapor · 02-08-2004, 12:41 PM

You're right, maybe I just gave too much detail and justification.

Quote:

Should you expect a power gain from a valve job?

No. not by itself.

Preyluder · 02-08-2004, 01:05 PM

When did you give too much detail/justification? All you ever told me was basically that it's a bad idea!

marcucci · 02-08-2004, 06:59 PM

Why go through the trouble, spend $150+ on materials (gaskets) alone, all for something that won't give any power? Even with a lot of other mods you'd be talking about only a couple of horsepower.

If you go to that kind of trouble, you should go with different valves, mill the head, do a full port job... SOMETHING. You can spend your money on whatever you want, but the only person that won't tell you that you are wasting your money is the guy getting paid...

Moving to NA where it belongs.

Vapor · 02-09-2004, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marcucci
If you go to that kind of trouble, you should go with different valves, mill the head, do a full port job... SOMETHING ... the only person that won't tell you that you are wasting your money is the guy getting paid...

Quote:

Originally posted by Vapor
JUST a valve job? on an otherwise stock engine? kind of a waste by itself.

haha, I wonder if it will get NEAR the argument now that Todd has made a comment that's fundamentally identical.