AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

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Jivermo
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AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

Post by Jivermo » Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:12 pm

Has AMC finally gotten the message that their valves, etc., were subpar? As in, Headflow Masters and Len Hoffman stripping that stuff off the heads and discarding them for better quality metal subpar? I understand that they now provide better quality parts. Does anyone have any personal experience with this, or is it a hopeful rumor in our strange, aircooled world?

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Amskeptic
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Re: AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

Post by Amskeptic » Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:25 am

Jivermo wrote:
Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:12 pm
Has AMC finally gotten the message that their valves, etc., were subpar?

Based on my recent research of the past twenty four minutes, there are questions, and I share them.
GoWesty : "Over the years, they have improved—but are still not quite up to par with the standards we require for our rebuilt engines."

You cannot screw around with air-cooled heads. I KNOW that modern aftermarket metallurgy is suspect. My internet research visited issues with valve quality and keepers whose dimensions were wrong, whose cut was sloppy, and whose hardness "ate" the valves. This area is too critical for aftermarket guesses. The photos of valve keepers and stem grooves on AMC heads was chilling, yes, but more chilling was the incorrect idiot spewing incorrect advice about how keepers are supposed to fit. Good God.

AMC castings, fine. But superior quality valves and reputable keepers and proper springs, critical.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Bleyseng
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Re: AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

Post by Bleyseng » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:59 pm

Its still crap so go to HAM for heads that last
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
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cegammel
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Re: AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

Post by cegammel » Thu Aug 02, 2018 5:55 pm

I can vouch for Hamheads...these new heads are immaculate. He guts the AMCs and does a beautiful job of refitting. Worth the extra money, in my opinion.

72Hardtop
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Re: AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

Post by 72Hardtop » Sun Oct 21, 2018 3:21 am

HAM or Adrian (HeadflowMasters) If with Adrian you'll need to go with the new AMC re-worked heads not 20+ year old castings that have been likely overheated way to many times. Adrian will replace all the hardware with new quality hardware.

Cost....$17XX.XX
1972 Westy tintop
2056cc T-4 - 7.8:1 CR
Weber 40mm Duals - 47.5idles, 125mains, F11 tubes, 190 Air corr., 28mm Vents
96mm AA Biral P/C's w/Hastings rings
42x36mm Heads (AMC- Headflow Masters) w/Porsche swivel adjusters
71mm Stroke
Web Cam 73 w/matched Web lifters
S&S 4-1 exhaust w/Walker 17862 quiet-pack
Pertronix SVDA w/Pertronix module & Flamethrower 40K coil (7* initial 28* total @3200+)
NGK BP6ET plugs
002 3 rib trans
Hankook 185R14's

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Bleyseng
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Re: AMC Heads, have they upgraded their valve train?

Post by Bleyseng » Sun Oct 21, 2018 8:16 am

IMG_7905.jpg
With Len at HAM you can also get a thermal coating for the combustion chamber and exhaust port for better head temps. Note the grey color...
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/

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